The Loeb Classical Library Founded By James Loeb, LL. D. Edited ...

THE LOEB CLASSICAL LIBRARYFOUND ED BY JAME S LOEB ,

LL .D .

EDITED BY

'

f T. E . PAGE, G .B . ,IJTT .D .

TE . CAPPS , PH .D . ,LL .D. TW. H . D . ROUSE , LITT .D .

L. A . POST,L.H .D . E. H . WARMINGTON , M .A . ,

PLINY

NATURAL HISTORY

LIBRI XXIV- XXVII

PL I N Y

NATURAL H ISTORY

WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATIONIN TEN VOLUME S

VOLUME VII

LIBRI XXIV - XXVII

W . H . S . JONES ,LITT .D F .B .A

HONORA RY FELLOW,ST. CATHARINE’

S COLLEGE,CAMBRIDGE

CAM BR IDGE , MASSACHU SETTSHARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS

LONDON

W I L L I AM HE I NEM ANN LTD

MCMLXVI

CONTENTS

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

BOOK XXIV

BOOK XXV

BOOK XXVI

BOOK XXVII

ADD ITIONAL NOTES

INDEX OF PLANTS

LIST OF D ISEASES AND AFFECTIONS

INDEX OF NAD/IES 555

PREFACE

I W ISH to thank Profe ssor A . C . Andrew s of the

University of M iami for the great he lp he has be enin the preparation of this volume . I some time s re fe rto him as A .C.A . Expert botan ica] knowledge is

e ssential for the solution of many problems that havearisen , e special ly in the compilation of the Index ofPlants . My rough draft of this he revised , makingmany additions : the se amount to several page s .

For the errors that inevitably remain in my work Ialone am re sponsible .

My thanks are a lso due to the staff of the Cam

bridge School of Botany and to Profe ssor C . O . Brinkof the same Unive rsi ty .

vii

INTRODUCTION

THE MANU SCR IPTS O F THESE BOOKS(CH IEFLY FROM MAYH OFF)

Nonantulanus (Sessorianus) 5th or 6th century ,a palimpse st , now in Rome , once in a

Benedictine Monastery at Nonantula , near

Modena .

LATER MANU SCR IPTSl stf amily

Le idensis Vossianus, 11th century or earlier.

codex Florentinus Riccardianus , about 1100

A .D .

codex Parisinus latinus , 6797 , 13 th century.

codex Leidensis , 1l th century .

code x Toletanus , 13 th century .

the better parts of X , ex exemplarz'

prioris

f amiliae

2ndf amilyE codex Parisinus latinus 6795 , 10th or 11th

century .

r corrections from an unknown MS . noted in R .

a codex Vindobonensis CCXXXIV .

X codex Luxemburgensis , the parts not included111 x .

x

e

mm

w

<

Codd.

”

in the apparatus criticus is usually the same

as Mayhofi"S Il. i.e . a consensus of VR(r)dE , some

IX

INTRODUCTION

times only a consensus of severa l MSS . of the more

re liable kind . Vulg . the textus receptas of the e arlyeditions . Of FTx M ayhofi

‘

says : lectiones ita tantum

adnota tae sunt, ut e silentio nihil concludendum sit.”

The edition of Dalecamp (1587) has in the margin

(I) re adings of a lost MS . ; (2) readings of a lostedition or conj e cture s of an unknown scholar.

In the critical note s (1) is ca lled cod. Dal . and

(2) v e t . Dal .

As to the value of the se MSS , I have generallyfollowed M ayhofi

'

. The method adopted in fixingthe text has been to accept as corre ct the parts whereDe tle fsen and M ayhofi

'

agre e , except in a few placeswhere internal evidence or the text of Dioscoride spointed to another reading . Where the se tw o

editors difi‘

er I have tried to choose the like lier of

the tw o readings . If I fe lt that ne ither a lternativecou ld be accepted , I have some time s ventured on

an emendation sugge sted by a friend or thought outby myse lf , but never , I hope , where a reasonablereading is found in at least one MS . of fair authority .

Such a me thod as this wou ld be unsafe were it notfor the fact that Mayhoff

’

s apparatus criticus is bothful l and trustworthy .

A lthough one w ho has not collated , or at leastpersonally examined , the MSS . in M ayhoff

’

s apparatus ,cannot claim to appre ciate fu l ly the ir re lative importance , ye t he must acqu ire , as he studies the irvarious readings , some conception of the we ight to beattached to them . Such a critic , however , shou ldexe rcise even greater caution than the critic ful lyequipped for his task . For his judgment , howevergreat his knowledge is of Plinian usage , of the

para lle l passage s in Theophrastus and Dioscorides ,X

INTRODUCTION

and of the principle s of textual criticism , is certain tobe influenced unduly by the subj e ctive e lement inhis reasoning . A translator , however, although hewould pre fer to spend all his time and care on hisproper task of translating , is some time s compe l led tode fend a new re ading or sugge st an emendation ,

be cause in his opinion such a course is required by thesense of the passage . But the extra caution nece ssary in the se case s hasmade me re frain frommentioning some emendations of my ow n that I thoughtpossible or even l ike ly . It is , moreover, often . for

gotten that an ancient author— and this perhapsapplie s e special ly to P liny— may himse lf have mademistake s , even bad one s , that e scaped the noticeof his corrector , if he had one .

SOME D IFF ICULT WORDS IN PLINY .

THE ADJECT IVE PINGUIS APPLIED TO LEA—VES

THERE are in P liny few words more perplexing than

pinguis when applied to le ave s . Force l lini says

pinguia fol ia : crassa e t ve la ti carnosa .

” Pliny ,however, use s it to translate Àw rapo

'

g , which is verycommon in Dioscoride s , and is rendered by Hortglossy (leave s) in his edition of Theophrastus .

It is there fore tempting - to use glossy to translate Pliny ’

s pinguis (and the Àm apég of Dioscoride s)on all occasions , but there are difficultie s . The latterhas (IV

‘

KÀ&3a Àw rapozîg , and glossy twigsse ems un like ly ; while P liny in XXV 124 speaks ofradicibus pinguibus , which is sure ly juicy roots . It

would appear that ju icy is at least a possibletranslation of pinguis , e special ly as P liny often speaksof leave s having a sucus. Examples are : suons

xi

INTRODUCTION

f oliorum (XXIV 47 and f olzzs exprz'

rnitur sucus

(XXIV fi t etf oliis sucus (XXIV suons e

f ronde (XXVThe claims of flesby have to be considered .

On the face of it , perhaps , it is a more natura l epithe tfor leave s than e ither glossy or juicy ,

”

and it isthe on ly me aning given by Force ll ini . Against therendering must be put the frequent use of oapxc68ngby our Greek authoritie s in this sense , often in closeconjunction with Àcrrapcig .

In P liny XXV 161 occurs a phrase which se ems atfirst sight to settle the matter. He speaks of

f olia carnosa , pinguia ,

1 larga suca . Does thismean fleshy , glossy , juicy leave s The last tw oepithets , however, may be connected , which wouldgive the sense rich with copious ju ice .

” This isperhaps unl ike ly , but cannot be ruled out as im

possible . Th e paral le l passage in Dioscoride s (IV88 , 89) doe s not he lp in deciding the question .

Hort may _be right in translating Àmapdg by

glossy ,

”

but what did P liny take it to mean whenappl ied to leave s ? A consideration of all the per

t in ent passage s sugge sts a combination of . glossyand fie sby ,

”

i.e . , not necessarily large , but s leekand plump .

” Perhaps , if a single word must bechosen to render pinguis whenever it occurs , richge ts as near to P liny ’s idea of the me aning as the

English language wil l permi t . But unfortunate lymodern botan ists are opposed to this rendering .

It may se em that the be st course wou ld be to

identify the leaf re ferred to, and to vary the translation to suit the actual facts . Botan ists , however,

1 Littré translates p ingnio (into the French)“

grasses

Bostock and Riley unctuous .

”

XII

INTRODUCTION

point out (1) that identification is often uncertain ;(2) that w e may know the genus , but not the spe cie sof the plant mentioned , and (3 ) that a—leaf is oftenboth fieshy and glossy .

On the whole , perhaps fiesby is the be st translation , except in cases where another rendering. isobviously desirable .

Words sign ifying colours are very trouble some in

the botanica l parts of Pliny ; niger, candidus , albus ,

purpureus , bevvilder the translator nearly every time

they. occur.

I have used black and white un le ss there issomething in the context that make s dark and

light more appropriate ; the comparative nigrior,for instance , is more l ike ly to be darker thanblacker when applied to leave s or stalks .Pliny has quite a long section (IX , 124—141) dealing

w ith purpura . It is plain from this that the colourre ferred to w as usually a deep red tinged w ith more

or less blue , our purple in fact , the most e steemedvarie ty be ing like clotted blood . There were manyshade s of it , a common one be ing bright red .

The word purpureus covered a very wide range of

meanings ; P liny applie s it to the violet (XXI ,to plum s (XX , to figs (XV , 69) and . to lettuce(probably a form of headed lettuce) (XIX ,

The last sugge sts our brown cos and continuity . In books XX—XXVII Pliny

,is mostly trans

lating Greek , and nop<fi6peos seems to be a some

what wider term than purpureus , which is Pliny’s

equ ivalent . TO the se e lements of uncertaintymust be added the possibility that flowers mayhave varied the ir shade s in the last tw o thousand

xiii

INTRODUCTION

years , so that modern plants are not an infal liblegu ide .

On the whole it seems best to ke ep purple(Littré has regularly pourpre un less the contextshows that such a rendering is impossible or absurd .

Vero in P liny is often ne ither intensive nor ad

versative , ne ither inde ed nor however , but

almost a mere connective particle equ ivalent to item.

Sometime s , but by no means always , it introduce s aclimax . Usual ly , however , a slight , general ly a verys light , adversative force remains , and I have a lwaystried however and indeed be fore falling backon a pure ly connective word .

Okum, translated O il ,”

w as usually , perhapsalways , olive Oil . When another kind of oil is

indicated an epithe t is added .

The Latin name s of plants have been kept unle ss todo SO

'

would be absurd ; I write for instance sideritis

and ageraton , but rose and plantain .

”

In otherwords , English name s are used only when they are

fami liar and a lso corre ct ident ificat ions . The Index

of Plants should clear up most of the difficultie sthat may occur.

xiv

l\?

PLINII NATURALIS HISTORIAE

LIBER XXIV

1. NB silvae quidem horridiorque naturae facie smedicinis carent , sacra illa parente rerum omniumnusquam non remedia disponente homini , ut medicina 1 fiere t e tiam solitudo ipsa , ad 2 singula 3 illinsdiscordi ae atque concordiae miraculis occursant ibus.

quercus e t ole a tam pertinaci odio dis sident ut alterain alterius scrobe depacta emoriantur , quercus veroe t iuxta nucem iuglandem . pernicialia et brassicae

cum v ite odia , ipsum olus quo vitis fugatur adversumcyclamino e t origano arescit . quin e t annosas iam e t

quae stem antur arbore s difficilius caedi , ce lerius

marcescere tradunt , si prius manu quam ferro at

tingantur . pomorum onera iumenta statim sentire 4

medicina d , M ayhoff medicinae Detlef sen.

ipsa , ad ego : ipsa , e t ad JIayho/f : ipsa , sed ad multi( Odd Fortasse sed per dittoyraphiam est orturn.

3singul a Detlef sen, .Mayhoff : singul as, cod. a : stgul a V

I: es t

guia V2

. N um la let singulariis vel singul aribus sine ad ?

4 iumenta statim sentire cod. a , Detlef sen a iumentis sta timsenti t i d , .ll ayhofi .

The tens e of fieret shows that the part iciple dis;ronente isimperf ect , re ferring to the t ime of the actua l creation . The utmight be fina l for the v ery desert to become a drug store .

2

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PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY

ac , nisi prius ostendantur his , quamv is panca portent ,sudare ilico . ferulae asinis gratissimo sunt in pabulo ,ce teris vero iumentis prae sentaneo veneno , qua decausa id animal Libero patri adsignatur, cui e t

3 ferula . surdis e tiam rerum sua cuique sunt v enena ac

min imis quoque . philyra coci e t polline nimiumsalem cibis eximunt , praedulcium fastidium sal

t emperat . nitrosae aut amarae aquae polentaaddita mitigantur , ut intra duas horas bibi possint ,qua de causa in saccos v inarios additur polenta .

similis vis Rhodiae cretae e t argillae mostrati . con

cordia valent , cum pix oleo extrahitur , quandoutrumque pinguis naturae est . oleum solum calcimiscetur , quando utrumque aquas odit . cummisace to facilius e luitur, atramentum aqua , innumera

prae terea a lia quae suis locis dicentur adsidue .

4 Hino nata medicina . haec sola naturae placuerate sse remedia parata vulgo, inv entu facilia ac sineinpendio et qu ibus v iv imus . postea fraudes hominume t ingeniorum capturae officinas inv enere istas in

quibus sua cuique homini v enalis promittitur vita .

statim composit iones e t mixturae inexplicabiles de

5 cantantur , Arabia atque India remedia 1 aestimantur ,

ulcerique parvo medicina a Rubro mari inputatur ,2

cum remedia vera cotidie pauperrimus qu isque

1remedia Mayhoff in media picrique codd. in medio cad.

a , Detlef sen v el Media coni . Mayhojf .

2 inputatur codd. , M ayhofi inportatur Detlefsen .

Creta w as perhaps fuller’

s earth .

The sentence in form is similar to 5 1 ut medicina fieretetiam solitudo ipsa . With Mayhofl

’

s ingenious emendationArabia , India or Media are highly commended.

”

With the reading inportatur for a t iny sore a medicine

is imported from the Red Sea (Arabian and Persian Gulfs) .

4

BOOK XXIV . 1 . 2—5

burden know at once when the ir load consists of fruit ,and unle ss it is first shown to them straightway beginto swe at , however small the ir load may be . Fenn e lgiantmake s ve ry agre eable fodde r for the ass to otherbeasts of burden , however , it is a qu ick poison . For

this reason the an imal is sacred to Father Liber , as isa lso fenne l - giant . Life le ss things a lso , even the mostinsignificant , have each the ir ow n spe cial poisons .

By me ans of linden bark and fine Hour cooks e xtractexce ssive salt from food ; sa lt reduces the sickli

ne ss of over—swe e t things ; water that is nitrous or

bitter is swe e tened by the addition of pearl barley ,so that within tw o hours i t is drinkable , and for thisreason pearl barley is put into linen wine—straine rs .The chalk of Rhode s and the potter

’s e arth of our ow ncountry posse ss a similar property . Affinities showthe ir powe r when pitch is taken out by Oil , both be ingof a gre asy nature . Oil alone mixe s with lime , bothhating water . Gum is more easily removed byvinegar , ink by water, and countless other examplebe sides will be care fully given in the ir properplace .

Hence sprang the art of medicine . Such thingsalone had Nature decre ed should be our remedie s , prov ided everywhere , easy to discover and costing nothing

— the things in fact that support our life . Lateron the dece it of men and cunn ing profit eering led tothe invention of the quack laboratorie s , in which e achcustomer i s promised a n ew le ase of his ow n life at a

price . At once compound prescriptions and mysterious mixture s are glibly repeated , Arabia and Indiaare judged to be storehouse s of remedie s , and a smallsore is charged 0 with the cost of a medicine from the

Red Se a , although the genuine remedie s form the

The or.

medici?


cene t . nam si ex horto pe tantur , aut herba v e l

frutex quae ratur , nulla artium v ilior fiat . ita est

profecto , magn itudine populi R . periit ritus , v in

cendoque vieti sumus . paremus externis , e t una

artium impe ratoribus quoque imperav erunt . verumde his alias plura .

6 Il . Loton herbam itemque Aegyptiam eodem

nomine alias e t Syrticam arborem diximus su is locis .

haec lotos , quae faba Grae ca appellatur a nostris ,

alvum bacis sistit , ramenta ligni decocta in v ino

prosunt dysint ericis , menstruis , vertigini , comitialibus , cohibent e t capillum . mirum his ramentis

nihil esse amarius fructuque dulcins . fit e t e scobe

e ius medicamentum ex aqua myrti decocta , subacta

e t divisa in pastillos , dysintericis utilissimum ponderev ictoriati cum aquae cyathis tribus .

7 I I I . Glans intrita duritias quas cacoe the v ocant

cum salsa axungia sanat . v ehementiores ilignae1e t

in omn ibus cortex ipse corticique tunica subiecta .

haec de cocta iuv at coe liacos . dysintericis e t inlinitur

1 ilignae Detlefsen : iligna S illig, M ayhofl'

: ligna aut

liohenas codcl.

The ordinarymeaning of nam would make good sense , but

the Plinian usage fits better the logic of the passage .

See XXI . 103 and XIII . 55 104 fi'

. Perhaps Syriacam,

referring to the faba Sgriaca , should be read for Syrticam.

This weight and coin is first ment ioned by Pliny in XX.

5264 . It w as half a denarius , that is , half a drachma .

‘1 This chapter is di ffi cult to translate , or ev en to under

stand , because Pliny , a fter beginning with the medicina ] uses ofglans , proceeds, without t elling the reader that he has passed

on to the oak, to talk of folia et bacae. Accordingly, it isuncertain whether cortex means the peel of the acorn or the

bark of the tree . Diosco1 ides 1s quite clear. Under Spvs he

says (I. 106, Wellmann ) : paÀw r a. Bè a vrng orugba 7 0 per a£vrav <;5Àow v Ka l r ov wpe

'

p.vov vp evoa 3 és, ouoiw s Ka l ro mspì r r)

6

BOOK XXIV . I. 5—111 . 7

da ily dinner of even the very poore st . But “ if

remedie s were to be sought in the kitchen - garden , or

a plant or a shrub were to be procured thence , noneof the arts would become cheaper than medicine . It

is pe rfectly true that owing to the ir greatness theRoman people have lost the ir usage s , and through conquering w e have be en conquered . We are the subj e ctsof fore igners , and in one of the arts they have masteredeven the ir masters . But of this more e lsewhere .

Il . In the ir proper place s I have already spoken of The Ioti

the plant called lotus ,b and also of the Egyptian plantca lled by the same name , some time s known also as

the tree of the Syrte s . The berrie s of this lotus , whichby our countrymen is called the Gre ek bean , che ckloosene ss of the bowe ls . Shavings of the wood , boileddown in wine , are good for dysente ry , irregular men

struation , giddiness and epilepsy . They also preventthe hair from falling out . It is strange that nothingis more bitter than the se shavings or swe eter thanlotus fruit . From the sawdust also of the wood a

medicine is prepa1 ed by boiling it down in myrtlewater it 15 then kneaded and cut into lozenges , whichmake a v e 1y use ful medicine for dysentery , the dosebe ing one victoriatus 0 to thre e cyathi of water.

I I I . Pounded acorns with salted axle - grease cure Acor ns.

the indurations that are called malignant . More

potent are those of the holmoak , and in all acornsthe more potent parts are the pe e l itse lf and the skinjust under it . A decoction of the latter is good forcoe liac aff ections . In case s of dysentery also even

BaÀa vcp v rrò rò K6'

Àvgòos‘

. Under ai Ba'

Àa v0 t :A

ap.u.o€ovcn Sè npog

r ò. ioBor\a eodtoua tac, Ka i r ò a cfie'

gbnua Sè a vr w v Kai rav 95Àow v

Bondeî rofu<w per ò. yaÀaxr osBoeiov m vo'

uevov . ioxvporepacSè rw v 5pv ivw v a i npivw ac

‘rfi 5v vap.a eia i. There is no confusion

here between the acorn and the oak.

PLINY NATURAL HISTORY

ve l ipsa glans . eadem resistit serpent ium ictibus .

rheumat ismis , suppurationibus . folia e t bacae v e l

cortex v el sucus de cocti prosunt contra toxica .

cortex inlinitur decoctus lacte vaccino serpentisplagae , datur e t ex vino dysintericis . eadem e t iliciVIS .

IV . Coecum ilicis vulne ribus recentibus ex acetoinponitur , epiphoris ex aqua , oculis subfusis sanguineinstillatum .

1e st autem genus ex eo in Africa fere et

Asia nascens ce lerrime in v ermiculum 2se mutans ,

quod ideo scole cium vocant inprobantque . principalia e ius gene ra diximus .

V . Nec pauciora gallae genera fe cimus , solidam

perforatam , item albam nigram , maiorem minorem.

vis omn ium similis , optima Commagena . excres

centia in corpore tollunt , prosunt gingiv is , uvae , orisexulcerationi . crematae e t vino ext inctae 3

coe liacis ,

dysint ericis inlinuntur, paronychiis ex me lle , e t

unguibus scabris , pte rygiis , ulceribus manantibus ,

condylomatis , ulceribus4 quae phagedaenica v ocantur .

in vino autem decoctae auribus inst illantur , oculis

inst il latum codd. ins t illatur vulg. , M ayhoff .

v ermi culum EX vulg v ermiculum id ill ayhoff : v ermissubtilis S illig, Detlef sen v ermis ultimi s aliquot codd .

3 Post extinctae la cunam i'nd ica i M ayhoff , qui coll . Dioscor

ide (I. 107) sanguin em sistun t ; ex aqua aut v ino tritae

exciclisse puta t.4ul ceribus cod. Dai., S illig, Mayhoff vulneribus Detlef

sen , cocld.

Or It is used in an application for cases of dysentery,or the acorn itself is so used .

”

See note cl 0 11 p. 6. The berries may be the gallscaused by the gall

- fiy N euroterus baccarum.

Either poisons generally or those us ed to poison arrows(rééa ) and other weapons . See also note a on p. 20.

8

BOOK XXIV . 111 . 7—v . 9

the acorn itse lf is applied .

“ The same decoction is aremedy for snake bite s , fiuxes and suppurations . The

leave s and berrie s , or the bark ,b or the liquid of a

decoction ,counteract poisons .

° A decoction of the

bark b in cows ’ milk is applied to snake bite s , and

the bark in wine is given for dysentery . The holmoak has the same propertie s .

IV. The scarle t berry d of the holm oak is applied to Holm—ofre sh wounds in vinegar and to fluxe s of the eye swater ; it is dropped into eyes that are blood—shot .

There is also a kindred berry , found common ly in

A frica and A sia , quickly tu1ning into a little wormfor this re ason it i s called scoleciumf and is in lowe ste em . The main v a1 ie ties of it I have a lready [given .

V . We have classified f just as many varietie s O f Gal l - nu

ga ll - nut— the solid and the perforated , the white and

the dark , the larger and the le ss . The propertie sof all are al ike , although the be st kind come s fromCommagene . They remove excre scence s of fle sh ,

and are good for the gums , the uvula , and an ulcerated mouth . Burnt and then extinguished wi th winethey are applied for coe liac aff ections and dysentery ,in honey to w hitlows , scabrous nails , hangna i ls ,running sore s , condylomata , and the sore s ca lledphagedaenic . A de coction moreover in wine is

dropped into the ears and also used as an application

The kermes insect of the Quercus coccifera .

Worm berry .

”

f Book XVI . 3 2 and 26.

0 Mayhoff thinks that there is a lacuna here , because of

certa in words in Dioscorides I. 107 . But Pliny by no means

corresponds to Dioscorides closely in this chapter, and has leftout much that is found in the Greek . Accordingly it is unsafeto postulate a lacuna in any particular passage .


inlinuntur , adversus erupt iones , panos cum aceto .

nucleus commanducatus dentium dolorem sedat , itemintertrigines e t ambusta . inmaturae ex his ex

ace to potae lienem consumunt . e aedem crematae

e t ace to salso extinctae menses sistunt vulvasque

procidentes fotu . omn is capillos denigrat .

1

VI. Viscum e robore prae cipuum diximus haberi ,e t quo confice retur modo . qu idam contusum in aquadecocunt ,

2 done c nihil innate t . quidam comman

ducant es acinos expuunt cortice s . optimum quodsine cortice quodque lev issimum , extra fulvum , intus

porraceum . nihil est glutinosius . emollit , discutit

tumore s , siccat strumas . cum re sina e t ce ra panosmitigat omnis generis . quidam e t ga lbanum adiciunt

pari ponde re singulorum , eoque modo e t ad vulne rautuntur . unguium scabrit ias cxpolit , si septenis

di ebus solv antur 3 nitroque conluantur . quidam idre ligion e e fficacius fieri putant prima luna collectum

e robore sine ferro, si terram non att igerit , comitialibus

1 denigrat VEX, Mayhofl denigrant dT uulg. , Detlef sen .

2 Num decocun t post innatet transponendum‘?

solv antur codd. illinantur coni . Mayhofl"

, qui conf ert Dioscar. 111. 89 etF lin . xx . 3 9 , 9 3 , 10 1, 10 3 , XXI . 142 .

See XVI . 3 0 and 245—248 . Viscum is used of the plant ,of the berries, and also of the birdl ime made from these . See

XVI. 248 , v iscumfit ex acinis .

Dioscorides III . 89 : «6777 6 7 11 1. 5% 6 Kaprrés , ( ir a. nÀv'

ver ac,

( ir a gl/1€ Ta t Év 173 a 7 1. ‘ è'

v roz paoaîp.evo:. a Ùr o‘

v €pyd{ovr ac, the

fruit is crushed, then washed , then boiled in water some workit up by chewing. This is clear sense , but Pliny’

s text scarce

ly agrees with it . There is nothing in Pliny to correspond to

zrÀ15ver a a. or èpyci{ovr ac, and nothing in Dioscorides to correspondto donec nihil inna tet and expuunt cortices . It is possible thatdonec nihil innatet should be transposed crushed in waterIO


mederi , conceptum feminarum adiuvare , si omnino

secum habeant , u lce ra commanducato inpositoque

e fficacissime sanari .VI I . Roboris pilulae ex adipe ursino 1 alopecias

capillo repleut . ce rri folia e t cortex e t glans siccatcollect iones suppurationesque , fluctiones sistit .

torpent es membrorum partes conroborat de coctume ius fotu , cui e t insidere expedit siccandis adstrin

gendi sque partibus . radix cerri adv ersatur scorpionibus .

VII I . Suberis cortex t ritus ex aqua calida potussanguinem fluent em ex utralibet parte sistit .

e iusdem cinis ex vino calido sanguinem excreantibus

magnopere laudatur .

IX. Fagi folia manducantur in gingiv arum lab

rorumque v itiis . calculis glandi s fagineae cinisinlinitur , item cum me lle alopeciis .

X . Cupressi folia trita recent ibus vulneribus 2

inponuntur , e t capiti cum polenta , si a sole dole at ,item ramici , qua de causa e t bibuntur. testiumquoque tumori cum cera inlinuntur , capillum deni

1 ursino uulg. Mayhoff v ere ursino Detlefsen, S trackiumsecutus v ero ursino codd. Vide notam (b).

2recent ibus v ulneribus ex Plinio iun . 74 , 7 coni . Mayhoff

ego quoque ipse ex Dioscoride ita su8pica tus sum serpent ibus

ulceribus M ayhoff in textu : serpent ium ict ibus Detlefsen :

serpent ibus aut serpentis aut serpent ium codd. Cf . Dios

corides I. 74 r à Sè q5v'

ÀÀa Àeîa rpav'

paxr a.

For this use of omnino see IX. 185 , XVI . 149 , XXII .560, XXIV . 95 , XXV. 101, XXVI. 98, XXVIII . 55 79 . 80 ,

83 , 85 , XXXII . 8 .

The emendation of Strack (vere real bear’

s grease

for vero) is v ery ingeni ous . Perhaps a lacuna after pilulae,with vero an adv erb .

For a lopecia see list of diseases.

12

BOOK XXIV. v r. 1 2—x. 1 5

the ground that so it cure s epilepsy , he lps women to

conce ive if they mere ly carry it on the ir persons ;that chewed and applied to sore s it he als them moste ffe ctive ly .

VI I . The globule s growing on the hard - wood oak Hard—uv

mixed with bear ’

s gre ase restore hair lost through gl“

mange .

c The leave s , bark and acorns of the Turkey Turkey

oak dry up gatherings and suppurations , and che ckfluxe s . Paralysed parts of limbs are strengthenedby fomenting with a decoction of it , which as a sitzbath is use ful for drying and bracing the se parts .

The root of this tre e counteracts the poison of

scorpions .

VI I I . The bark of the cork - tre e , pounded and taken Cork.

in hot water , arre sts haemorrhage from e ither part 4

of the body , and the ashe s of the same taken in heatedwine are highly praised as a cure for spitting of blood .

IX. Be e ch le aves are chewed for affe ctions of the Beech le

gums and of the lips . The ashe s of the be e ch nut

make a liniment for stone in the bladder , and withhoney for mange .

X . The pounded le ave s of the cypre ss are applied Cypressto fresh e wounds , and with pe arl barley to the head

leaves °

in case s of sunstroke ;f they make an application alsofor hernia , for which too they are taken in drink .

W ith w ax they make an ointment also for swollen

Usually taken to be mouth and nose . In v iew of the fact

that pars often means side , perhaps mouth and nose make

one pars, and the anus (piles , etc. ) the other.

Recentibus vulneribus seems the most like restoration of

the MSS . serpentibus . It is supported by Dioscorides I. 74,and if vulneribus were omitted (haplography), serpentibus

might naturally be wr itten for the now meaningless recentibus .

Cf . 5 8 of this book.

f Headache after exposure to the sun , perhaps.


grant ex aceto . eadem trita cum duabus partibuspanis mollis e vino Ammineo subacta pedum ac

nervorum dolore s sedant . pilulae adversus serpen

tium ictus bibuntur , aut si e iciatur sanguis , colle ctionibus inlinuntur . ramici quoque t enerae tusae cum

axungia et lomento prosunt . bibuntur ex e ademcausa . parotidi et strumae cum farina inponuntur .

exprimitur suons tusis cum semine 1 qui mixtus oleocaliginem oculorum aufert . item v ictoriati ponderein vino potus inlitusque

2cum fico sicca pingui ,

exempt is gran is , vitia te stium sanat , tumore s discutite t cum fermento strumas . radix cum foliis tritapota ve sicae e t stranguriae mede tur , e t contra

phalangia . ramenta pota mense s cient , scorpionumictibus adv ersantur .

XI. Cedrus magna , quam cedre laten vocant , dat

picem quae cedria v ocatur , dentium doloribus

utilissimam . frangit enim eos e t extrahit , dolore ssedat . cedri sucus ex e a quomodo fiere t diximus ,

magni ad volumina 3usus , ni capiti dolorem in

1 Post semine punctum lll ayhofl'

.

2 inlitusque codd. inlitusv e e Plinio iun . Mayhoff .3v olumina plerique codd. , S illig, M ayhofl

”

collyriaDetlefsen :

duo lumina X lumina vulg.

Perhaps merely darken , though den igra is a strongword . See 10 .

See XX. 153 , XXII . 119 , XXVI . 49 , XXVIII . 177 ,XXX . 5 71, XXXIV . 103 .

Cedar- fin The ordinary cedrus w as the prickly juniper(Juniperus oxycedrus ), not cedar of Lebanon . But the bigcedar w as Juniperus excelsa . What is the subject of vocantPresumably the Greek botanists .

See XVI . è52 . But this chapter the method is describedof extracting resin from pitch

-

pine (taeda ). Pliny says there

that this resin is called cedrium in Syria , adding that the

Egyptians use it for emba lming corpses .

14

BOOK XXIV . x. 1 54 11. 1 7

t'

esticle s applied in vinegar they turn the hair black .

“

The same , pounded with twice the quantity of softbread and kne aded in Amminean wine

,soothe

pains in the fee t and sinews . The globules on thistre e are taken in drink for snake bite s or for the

bringing up of blood , and used as an application forgatherings . Gathered while soft , and pounded withaxle—grease and be an meal, they are also good forhernia . For the same purpose they are taken in

drink . M ixed with me a l they are applied to parotidtumours and to scrofulous sore s . Pounded with these ed these globule s yie ld a juice , which mixed withOil takes away films on the eyes . Taken too in dose sof one victoriatus in wine and used as an ointmentwith a rich dried fig , from which the se eds have be enremoved , it cure s affe ctions of the te sticle s , disperse stumours , and with le aven he a ls scrofu lous sore s .Cypre ss root , pounded with the leave s and taken indrink, cure s aff e ctions of the bladder and strangury ,and counteracts the poison of spiders . The shavingstaken in drink act as an emmenagogue , and neutralize the stings of scorpions .

Xl . The big cedrus , which they call cedre late ,c

yie lds a pitch which is called cedria , very use ful fortoothache ; for it breaks the te e th and brings themout , easing the pain . I have alre ady de scribed d howcedrus juice is e xtracted from the wood , of gre at usefor book—rolls e were it not for the he adache it cause s .

The reading (volumina ) of the great majority of the MSS .

is slight ly confirmed by Pliny’

s speaking m the context of the

preserv ing qualities of cedar res in . The headache apparentlyis that sa id to be giv en to those using the rolls for wr it ing or

reading. Detlefsen’

s collyria would be more attract iv e werecedria among the ingredients of Ce lsus ’

prescriptions (VI . v i.

M 2 il ) for eye salv es. Lumina (tapers , torches ) is possible .

1 5

The bigcedrus .


ferret . de functa corpora incorrupta aev is servat ,v iv ent ia corrumpit , mira di ff erentia , cum vitamau fe rat spirantibus de functisque pro vita sit . ve stesquoque corrumpit e t animalia mecat . ob haec non

censeam in anginis hoc remedio utendum neque incruditat ibus ,

1 quod suasere aliqui , gustatu . dente squoque conluere ex ace to in dolore t imuerim v el

gravitati aut v ermibus aurium in stillare . port entum

e st quod tradunt abortivum fieri in venere ante perfusa v irilitat e . phthiriasis perunguere eo non dubitaverim , item porrigine s . suadent e t contra venenumlepori s marini bibere in passo . facilius in e lephant iasi

inlinant .

2e t ulcera sordida e t excrescentia in his

auctore s quidam et oculorum a lbugine s caliginesqueinunxe re eo e t con tra pulmon is ulcera cyathum e iussorberi iusserunt , item adversus taenias . fit ex eo e t

oleum quod pisse laeon v ocant , v ehementioris ad

omn ia e adem usus . cedri scobe serp ente s fugaricertum est , item bacis tritis cum oleo si qui perunguantur .

1crudi tat ibus codd. , edd. : raucitatibus coll. Dioscoride

con i . Jll ayhoff ; nescio an recte .

2 in linant V1 S illig, Jl ayhofi inlinunt Brotier, Detlef senvaria codd .

An in strumenta l ablativ e , although Pliny uses this case

to express durat ion . Pliny a lso has in ae vum XXXV. 54 .

Though there are no signs of v ariants in the MSS , it is

likely enough that the conj ecture rauc ita tibus (sore throat ) ofMayhofî is correct , for Dioscorides has w apw €p. iw v giÀeypova îs .

Corresponding to gusta tu.

, howev er, is 7T€ piXp10 7 0 5 .

A mollusc, Ap lysia vulgaris . Abov e , phthiria sis is

(Greek ddeepidoe i s) acc. pl.‘1 Pitch oil .

”

The ment ion of berries makes some commentators thinkthat Pliny is here conf us ing cedar and jun iper . But the

cedars of this chapte r are junipers .

16

BOOK XXIV . 111. 1 7—19

It pre serves dead bodie s uncorrupted by time ,“ but

cause s living one s to decay— a strange inconsistency ,to rob the living of the ir life and to give a quasi—li fe tothe dead ! It a lso make s clothe s decay and killsanimal life . For this reason I should not think itought to be used as a remedy for qu insy

, or for

indige stion ,°as some have recommended , taken by

the mouth . I should also be afraid to rinse the te e thwith it in vinegar, when they ache , or to drop it intothe ears for hardne ss of hearing or worms . Gossipre cords a miracle that to rub it all over the ma lepart be fore coition prevents conception . I shouldnot he sitate to use it as an ointment for phthiriasisor for scurf . It is also recommended to take it inraisin wine to counteract the poison of the sea

bare ,c but more readily it might be used as liniment

for leprosy . For foul sore s and excre scence s in

them, and for spots and films on the eye s , ce rta inauthoritie s have pre scribed it as an ointment , and

have di re cted that a cyathus of it be drunk for

sore s on the lung , as we ll as for tapeworm . The reis prepared from it an Oil also , which they cal l p isselaeon ,

dused for all the same purpose s , but of gre ater

potency . It is we ll ascertained that snake s are keptaway by the sawdust of cedrus , and that to rub

the body w ith the crushed berrie s mixed with oil

has the same result .f

f There is a great similarity between this chapter and

Dioscorides (Wellmann ). A few sentences may be

quoted : annn m)v p.ev rmv ey1fivxw v , <;SvÀaxrucnv Bè rmv v expw v

ow ua'

rw v . a vv o£et Sè eyxx\v{op.évn a xw Ànxas r ov c ev w a i

KTEt V€ L. a g r e eq a'

ruar a. oò ovr og e var ayeîoa 6pa v a p. èv

ròv 0 80 v 7 a , n av e:. Sè rr)v aÀyn80 v a. n ep1xpw deîaa a i50 iw

«pò rfig ov vovoia s a r omo'

u eon , ov vayxucw v re n epixpw-

ros con

«a i n apw dy iw v Bonde? npo'

s r e Àayw ov 0aÀaooiov

I 7


XII . Cedrides , hoc est fructus cedri , tussim sanant,

urinam cient , alv um sistunt , utiles ruptis , convulsis ,

spasticis, stranguriae , vulv is , ad antidota contra 1

lepores marinos e ademque quae supra , collectionibus

infiammationibusque .

XII I . De galbano diximus . neque umidum nequearidum probatur , et quale docuimus . per se bibitur

ad tussim v et erem , suspiria , rupta , convulsa . in

poni tur ischiadi cis , lateris doloribus , panis , furunculis ,corpori ab ossibus recedenti , strumis , art iculorum

modis . dentium quoque doloribus . inlinitur e t cum

me lle capitis ulceribus . purulentis infunditur auribus

cum rosaceo aut nardo . odore comitialibus subv eni t ,e t vulva strangulante v e l in stomachi de fectu .

abortus non exeunt es trahit adpositu v el suffi tu , itemramo he llibori circumlitum atque subiectum . se r

pente s nidore urentium fugari diximus . fugiunt et

perunctos galbano . medetur e t ab scorpione percussis .

1ad ant idota contra Ianus : contra. aculeata Detlefsen

contra aconita M ayhojf admot i contra vulg. contra admota

codd .

1ro'

o15 a v v yr\v1ceî ÀapBa vop.évnBondeî .o w <fieÀeî Ka t. eÀeòafi

vr zw vr as

KGBG- LPGL Ka l. ‘Tà 7TV € U[J.OVL € ÀK7Ì KG.L LGTG.L T QU

‘

TG. OO’

OV

miados pogbovpe'

v-

q . The statements that Pliny re cords doubt

ful ly appear in the Greek ; but the great diffi culty is , not toexplain the similarit ies , but to a ccoun t for the di fferences .

NO restoration of this locus corruptus is really sat isfactory .

The vulgate , if admoti be changed to admota e (since cedris is

feminine ) , is possible , but vulris admotae sounds odd after a

list of dat iv es depending upon utiles . If the order of contra

admota be sound, then admota has replaced some substant iv e ,to recov er whi ch is next to impossible , as in chapterXII there is

but a general resemblance to the end of Dioscorides I. 77 , wherew e read Ép.ur;va dyovo1. per ò. n errépecos‘ Àeîa 1. m vo

'

y.e v a 1, Ka i npògÀuyw oîî 9aÀaooiov This, trans lated into Latin, wouldbe nothing like Pliny

’

s corrupt text . At the end of chap. 77

18


bibitur et in difficili partu fabae magnitudine in cyatho

vin i , vulv asque conversas corrigit , cum murra autemet vino mortuos partus extrahit . adv ersatur et

v enenis , maxime toxicis , cum murra et vino . ser

pente s oleo et spondylio mixto tactu mecat . nocereurinae existimatur .

XIV . S imilis hammoniaci natura atque lacrimae ,

probandae ut diximus . mol lit , cale facit , discutit ,dissolv it . claritati visus in collyriis conv eni t , pruritum ,

cicat1 ices , albugine s oculorum tollit , dentium dolore ssedat , e fficacius accensum . prodest dyspnoicis ,

pleuriticis , pulmonibus , v esicis , urinae cruentae ,

lieni , ischiadicis potum— sic e t alvum solvit— articulis

e t podagrae cum pari pendere picis aut cerae e t

rosaceo coctum . maturat panos , extrahi t clavos cumme lle— sic et duritias emollit— lieni cum aceto e t ceraCypria v el rosaceo e fficacissime inponitur . lassitu

dine s perungui cum aceto e t oleo exiguoque n itroutile .

XV . Et styracis naturam in peregrinis arboribus

e xposuimus . placet praeter illa quae diximus

maxime pinguis , purus , albicantibus fragmentis .

medetur tussi , faucibus , pectoris v itiis , vulvae

Toxicum can be a mere synonym of venenum, but here it

obv iously re fers to a special kind of poison . Cf . XVI . 51,sunt qui et taxica hinc appella ta dicant venend

—qua e nunc lor ica

dicimus— quibus sagitta e tinguantur. See p. 8 note 0 .

Book XII . 107 .

The older editions punctuate so as to limit efiìcacius toseda t. This is probably right , for accensum must mean

alight , not burnt , (as Bostock and Riley). SO the

meaning is, that a piece of the gum ammoniac is set alight andapplied to the aching tooth . Thi s is strange , not to say heroic

treatment , and one wonders whether the text is corrupt , but

there are no v ariants .

'1 Mayhofi‘

suggests inlitum,applied .

2 0

BOOK XXIV . xm . raz —xv . 2 4

pie ce the size of a be an is taken in a cyathus of winefor di fficult de liverie s , and it reduce s a displaceduterus ; while with myrrh and wine it brings away a

dead foetus . W ith myrrh and wine it a lso counteracts poisons , particularly those used on arrows .

“

M ixed with 0 11and spondylium it kills snake s if it buttouche s them . It is supposed to make urinationdifficu lt .

XIV . S imilar is the nature of ammoniacum and of Ammos

its tear , which should be te sted in the w ay I mencum‘

tionedl’ It softens , warms , disperse s , and dissolve s .In eye salve s it promote s cle arne ss of v ision . It

remove s itch , scars , and white spots on the eye s , andre lieve s tooth - ache ,more e ffective ly when it has be enset alight .

c It is good for difficulty of bre athing ,pleurisy , aff e ctions of the lungs and bladder , bloodin the urine , diseases of the sple en , and sciatica , if itbe taken in drink— thus adm inistered it a lso loosensthe bowe ls— and , boiled

d with an equal we ight of

pitch or w ax and w ith rose oil , it make s a good ointment for disease s of the joints and for gouty pa ins .It brings superficial absce sse s to a head , and extractscorns , when mixed with honey— so applied it a lsosoftens indurations— and combined with vinegar and

Cyprian w ax or rose oil it make s a very e ffe ctiveapplication for di se ase s of the sple en . A rubbingwith ointment made up of this gum , with vinegar, O iland a little soda , is a good remedy for fatigue .

XV . The nature of storax also I have spoken of in Storm:.

my account of fore ign tre e s . In addi tion to the

qualitie s there mentioned , the most e ste emed kind isvery rich , unadulterated , and bre aks up into whitefragments . It cure s coughs , affe ctions of the throat ,

See XII. 124 .


praeclusae duritiev e laborant i, cie t mense s potuadposituque , alvum mollit . inv enio potu modicotrist it iam animi re solvi , largiore contrahi , sonitus

aurium emendare infusum , strumas illitum n ervorumque nodos . adv ersatur v enenis quae frigore

nocen t ,1 ideo e t cicutae .

XVI . Spondylium una demonstratum infunditur

capitibus phrenet icorum e t le thargicorum , itemcapitis doloribus longis cum oleo vetere ° 2 bibitur

e t in iocinerum v itiis , morbo regio , comitialibus,orthopnoicis , vulv arum strangulatione , quibus e t

suffitu prodest . alvum mollit . illinitur ulceribus

quae serpunt cum ruta . flos auribus purulent is

e fficacite r infundi tur , sed sucus , cum exprimitur ,

int egendus est , quoniam mire adpe titur a muscis e t

s im ilibus . radix de rasa e t in fistulas coniecta callumcarum e rodit . auribus quoque inst illatur cum suco .

datur et ipsa contra morbum regium e t in iocineris

v itio e t vulv arum. capillos crispos facit perunctocapite .

1nocent codd. , Detlef sen mecent M ayhofl .

2 S ic dist. Mayhojf , Dioscoridem secutus : longis . cum ole ov e tere bibitur ce leri edd.

Contrahere is an un fortunate word to use in this context ,

as it can mean both (1) to cause , bring about , and (2 ) to cut

short , lessen .

Mayhoff’

s conj ecture necent (for nocent of the MSS . ) wouldmean kill . ”

See XII . 128.

‘1 I think that the antecedent of quibus may be , not a ll the

preceding nouns , but vulvarum, for Dioscorides has 1577c

p1a'

ruevos: Bè dv axaÀeîr a 1. roùg Kar ad>epopévovg immediately af ter

fior ep1m‘

yv n v i‘ya .

2 2

BOOK XXIV . XV . 2 4—xv1 . 2 6

che st disease s , and obstructions or indurations of theute rus ; by the mouth or as a pe ssary it acts as an

emmenagogue ; it loosens the bowe ls . I find in myauthoritie s that a moderate dose dispe ls me lancholy ,but that a larger one cause s it ; that an injection cure s singing in the ears , a loca l applicationscrofulous sore s and knotty lumps on the sinews . It

counteracts poisons that harm b by chilling , and therefore , among othe rs , hemlock .

XVI . Spondylium , which I described at the same

time ,0 is with old oil poured on the heads of suff erers

from phrenitis , lethargus and headache of longstanding . It is also taken in drink for aff e ctionsof the liver , for j aundice , epilepsy , asthma , and

choking of the ute rus ; for the se ‘1 fumigation isa lso beneficia] . It loosens the bowe ls . Wi th rue itis used as a lin iment for spreading sores . The

blossom 8 is inj ected with good re su lts into puru lentears , but the juice , when i t is f be ing extracted , mustbe covered over , since it has a wonderful attraction forfl ie s and such - like insects . The shavings of the rootinserted into fistulas e at away the ir ca llositie s . Theyare also dropped with the ju ice into the ears . The

root also itse lf is given for j aundice and for

affections of the liver and of the uterus . If

the he ad is rubbed with it , -0 the hair be comescurly .

By blossom Pliny means the juice of the flowers , as w esee fromDioscorides (Wellmann ) : r av Sè a

'

u60 vs xÀw pov

o xvÀòg npos w ra. Ka l n uoopov vr a. 1ipuoCc- w. Here once

more Pliny and Dioscorides are v ery alike for a whole chapter,and the one can be sa fely checked by the other.

By using the present (exprimitur) Pliny implies that thejuice must be at once cov ered up.

0 Again juice is meant , as is shown by peruncto.

Spondy


XVII . Sphagnos sive sphacos sive bryon e t in

Gal lia , ut indicav imus , nascitur , v ulv is insidentiumutil is , item genibus e t feminum tumoribus mixtus

nasturtio e t aquae salsae tritus . cum vino autem et

re sina sicca potus urinam pellit celerrime . hydropicos inanit cum vino e t iuniperis tritus ac potus .

XVII I . Terebinthi folia et radix collectionibus

inponuntur . decoctum eorum stomachum firmat .

semen in capitis dolore bibitur in vino e t contradifficultatem urinae , ventrem leniter emollit , veneremexcitat .

XIX . Pice ae et laricis folia trita e t in ace to decoctadentium dolori prosunt , prodest

1 cini s cort icum

intertrigin i e t ambustis . potus alvum sistit , urinammov e t , suffitu vulvas corrigit . piceae folia privatimiocineri utilia sunt drachmae pondere in aqua mulsa

pota . silvas eas dumtaxat quae picis re sinaeque

gratia radantur utilissimas e sse phthisicis aut qui

longa aegritudine non recolligant vires satis constat ,e t illum cae li aera plus ita quam nav igationem

Aegypt iam proficere , plus quam lactis herbidos permontium aestiv a potus .

XX . Chamaepitys Latine abiga vocatur propterabortus , ab aliis tus terrae , cubitalibus ramis , florepinus e t odore . altera brev ior et incurva , ( foliis

1prosunt , prodest Detlefsen : prodest codd. prosunt vulg.

Post trita lacunam indio. Dioscoridem secuti Ian. , Mayhofl ,

sicfere explendam infiammat ionibus medentur, trita. Sed hoc

loco non ita similes sun t Plinius et Dioscorides .

See XII . 108 .

Privatim is a difficult word in Pliny. Usually rendered“especially ,

”it often suggests that the other things are

excluded .

2 4

BOOK XXIV . xv11 . 2 7—xx . 2 9

XVII . Sphagnos , or sphacos , or bryon , grows a lso , Sphagno

as I have pointed out , in Gau] . It is use ful in the

sitz bath for uterine aff e ctions , and beaten up, and

mixed with cre ss and salt water , it is also good for thekne es and for swe llings on the thighs . Taken in

drink moreover , with wine and dry re sin , it veryquickly acts as a diuretic . Beaten up and drunkwith wine and juniper berries , it drains off the waterin dropsy .

XVII I . The le ave s and root O f the turpentine - tre e rume ni?tree

are appli ed loca lly to gathermgs a decoct10 n of them (memstrengthens the stomach . The seed is taken in winefor headache and strangury it is a gentle aperientand an aphrodisiac .

XIX . The leave s of pitch—pine and of the larch Pitch 771

crushed and boiled down in vinegar are good for toothache , and the ash of the ir bark for chafing and burns .Taken in drink it checks loosene ss of the bowe ls , isdiuretic , and as a fumigation reduce s a displaceduterus . The le ave s of pitch—pine are spe cificfor affe ctions of the liver , the dose be ing a drachma

by w e ight taken in hydrome l . It is we ll known thatwoods consisting only of those tre e s from which pitchand re sin are scraped off are very beneficial to con

sumptiv es , or to those w ho cannot convale sce after a

long illne ss , and that the air in districts SO planted ismore he alth - giving than a sea—voyage to Egypt , or

than draughts of milk from cattle that have grazedalong summer pasture s in the mountains .XX . The ground—pine , the Latin name of which is Tru gn

abiga , be cause it cause s abortion , and to some known “ ”e'

as earth—incense ,”

has branche s a cubit in length ,with the flowers and the sme ll of the pine . A se condspecies is shorter and bent , with le ave s like those of

2 5


aiz oo}1 similis . tertia eodem odore e t ideo nomine

quoque , parvula , cauliculo digita li , foliis scabris ,

exilibus , albis , in petris nascens , omne s herbae , sedpropter cognationem nominis non differendae . pro

sunt adversus scorpionum ictus , item iocineri inlitae

cum palmis aut cotoneis renibus e t ve sicae decoctume arum cum farina hordeacea . morbo quoque regioet urinae difficultatibus ex aqua decoctae bibuntur.

novissima contra serpente s vale t cum me lle , sic e t

adpositu vu lvas purgat . sanguinem densatum extrahit pota . sudore s facit perunctis e a , peculiariter

renibus utilis . fiunt ex ea e t hydropicis pilulae cumfico alv um trahentes . lumborum dolorem v ictoriat i

ponde re in vino finit et tussim recentem . mortuos

partus ex ace to coota e t pota cicere protinus dicitur .

XXI . Cum honore e t pityusa simili de causadice tur , quam quidam in tithymali genere numerant .

frutex e st similis pice ae , flore parvo purpureo . bileme t pituitam per alvum de trahit radix decocti 2 heminaaut seminis lingula in balanis . folia in ace to decoctafurfure s cutis emendant , mammas quoque mixtorutae decocto e t tormina e t serpentium ictus e t in

totum collectiones incipiente s .

1 incurv a , ( foliis a iz oo) ex Dioscoride coni. fil ayhofl , sed in

extu lacunam mdrca t : incurv ae E( vulg. incurv a VdX.

decoctavel decoctavel radicis decoctae coni . Warmington.

The correction of Mayhoff makes good sense , and corre

ponds to Dioscorides III . 158 (We llmann ) : <;Sv’

ÀÀa Exa ò'

pomda {q3cp. But it is v ery conjectural. The v ulgate incurvae haslittle MS . support , and incurvae similis like one bent is

an odd phrase .

All three are plants , with a name deriv ed from the tree

7TLTUS .

S ine congloba tum quod in praecipita tis potissimumevenit. (Didot edition from Hardouin . )

2 6


XXI I . Re sinam e supra dictis arboribus gigni

docuimus et genera e ius e t nationes in ratione vini ,ac postea in arboribus . summae specie s duae , Siccaet liqu ida . sicca e pinu e t pice a fit , liquida terebintho , larice , lentisco , cupresso . nam et hae ferunt

in Asia e t Syria . falluntur qui e andem putant e sse e

picea atque larice . picea enim pinguem e t turismodo sucosam fundit , larix gracilem ac me lle i coloris ,virus redolent em . medici liquida raro utuntur e t in

ovo fere e larice propter tussim ulceraque v iscerum—nec pin ea magnopere in usu— c e teris non nisi

coctis . et coquendi genera satis demonstravimus .

arborum di fferentia place t terebinthina odoratis

sima atque levissima , nationum Cypria et Syr iaca ,

utraque me llis Attici colore , sed Cypria carnosior

crassiorque . in sicco genere quaerunt ut sit candida ,pura , perlucida , in omni autem ut montana potiusquam campe stris , item aqu ilonia potins quam ab a liovento . resolv itur re sina ad vulnerum usus e t malagmata oleo , in potiones

1amygdal is amari s . natura

in medendo contrahe re vulnera , purgare , discute recollection es ; item pectoris vi tia terebinthina .

2

inlinitur eadem calida membrorum doloribus spatia1 Fortas se excidit cum an te amygda lis .

2 item pectoris v it ia terebin thina] dist. ego : item pectoris

v itia . terebinthin a Detlef sen : lenit pectoris v it ia terebinthina ; Mayhofi .

See XIV . 122 .

See XVI . 3 8 .

TO whi ch does hae refer ?

See XVI . è 54 .

The bare ablat iv e appears strange . Perhaps the juice of

the almonds has, or w as supposed to hav e , a softeninge ff ect . Perhaps almond oil is meant . See XXV 118 .

2 8

BOOK XXIV. xx11. 3 2—3 5

XXII . That re sin is derived from the tree s men‘

Resin.

tioned above , with its various kinds and native regions ,Ihave stated in my account of wine ,“ and afterwardswhen dealing with tre e s . The most general classe sare tw o— the dry re sin and the liquid . Dry re sincomes from the pine and the pitch - pine , the liquidfrom the terebinth , larch , lentisk and cypre ss . For

in A sia and Syria the se last a lso produce it . Theyare mistaken w ho think that the same re sin come sfrom the pitch - pine as come s from the larch . For

the pitch - pine exude s a re sin that is rich , and likefrankincense in consistency , while the larch produce sa thin re sin with the colour of honey and a veryoffensive odour. M edical men use liquid re sin onlyoccasiona lly , genera lly that from the larch and

administered in egg , for coughs and ulcerated bowe ls ,nor is that from the pine much used ; the others areonly employed after boiling . The various ways of boiling Ihave fully expla ined .

“1 O f the various tre e s producing re sin , the favourite is the terebinth , which yie ldsone highly scented and very light ; of the regions ,Cyprus and Syria are most favoured both re sins areof the colour of Attic honey , but the Cyprian is thicke r,w ith more body in it . In the dry kind the qualitie slooked for are whitene ss , purity and transparencyin every kind , however, that from a mountain soil ispre ferred to that from the plains , and a north - e astaspect produces more highly e ste emed re sin than anyother. Resin is dissolved in Oil for the tre atmentof wounds and for poultices ; by means of °’ bitte ralmonds when used for draughts . Its medical properties are to close wounds , to act as a detergent , andto disperse gatherings terebinth re sin is also good forche st complaints . The last when warmed is used as


tisque1 in sole av e llitur ,

2et totis corporibus man

gonum maxime3 cura ad gracilitat em emendandam,

spatiis ita laxantium cutem per singula membra ,capacioraque ciborum facienda corpora . proximum

locum optinet e lentisco. inest e i vis adstringendi ,

mov et at ante ceteras urinam . reliquae ventremmolliunt , cruda concocunt , tussim v et erem sedant ,

vulvae onera extrahunt e tiam suffitae . privatimadv ersantur visco, panos e t similia cum sebo taurinoe t me lle sanant . palpebras lentiscina commodissime

replicat , fractis quoque utilissima e t auribus purulentis , item in pruritu genitalium . pine a capitisvulne ribus optime mede tur .

XXII I . P ix quoque unde e t quibus conficere tur

modis indicav imus , e t e ius duo genera , spissum

liquidumque . spissarum utilissima medicinae

Bruttia , quoniam pinguissima e t resinosissima utras

que praebe t utilitat es , ob id magis rutila quamceterae . id enim quod in hoc adiciunt , ex masculaarbore me liorem e sse , non arbitror posse int ellegi.

picis natura excalfacit , explet . adv ersatur privatimcerastae morsibus cum polenta , item anginae cum

1spat iatisque] spasticisque Mayhofi sed vide inf ra spatus .

2av ellitur plures codd Detlef sen : abluitur Mayhofi , qui

in sole abluitur in parenthesi ponit.3 maxime] An maxima

Mayhoff’

s text and for cramps— it is washed off in the

sun

For privatim see note b XXIV . 28 , p. 24 .

See XIV . 5 127 foll and XVI . 52 foll.'1 That is, of resin and of pitch .

BOOK XXIV. xx11. 3 s—xx111. 3 8

an ointment for pains in the limbs it is removed aftera walk has been taken in the sun . Slave - dealerse specially are anxious to use this ointment for rubbingover the whole bodies of the ir S lave s , with the obj ectof corre cting thinness ; by wa lks a fterwards theyloosen the skin of every limb , and they have the

further object of making possible the assimilation of a

gre ater quantity of food . Ne xt in popularity afterterebinth re sin comes that from the lentisk , which hasan astringent quality and is more diuretic than the

others . The re st of the re sins loosen the bowe ls ,cure indige stion , re lieve chronic coughs , and also ,when used as a fumigation , remove obstructions inthe uterus . The se are spe cific for the poison of

mistle toe , and with be e f sue t and honey they healsuperficial absce sse s and similar aff e ctions . Lentiskre sin is a most exce llent remedy for turning outwardsingrowing eye

- lashe s , and is also very use ful for fracture s and for pus in the ears , and a lso for irritationof the genitals . Pine re sin is a very good remedyfor wounds in the head .

XXII I . Pitch too , its source and the me thods of Pitch.

preparing it , I have alre ady 0 mentioned , as we llas its tw o kinds , the thick and the thin . O f the

thick pitches the most use ful in medicine is theBrut tian , because be ing both ve ry rich and veryre sinous i t combine s the use ful propertie s of both ,

‘1

the ye llow—red kind be ing of higher va lue than anyother be cause of this combination . For the furtherOpinion about pitch , that the male tree produce sa be tter kind , cannot I think be entertained . The

nature of pitch is to warm , and to fill out the

fle sh . M ixed with pearl barley it is a spe cificantidote for the bite of the horned viper, and with

3 1


me lle , destillationibus e t st ernutamentis a pituita .

auribus infunditur cum rosaceo , inlinitur cum ce ra .

1

sanat lichenas , alvum solv it , excreationes pe ctorisadiuv at ecligmat e aut inlitis tonsillis cum me lle .

sic e t ulcera purgat , exple t . cum uv a passa e t

axungia carbunculos purgat et putrescentia ulcera ,

quae vero serpunt cum pineo cortice aut sulpure .

phthisicis cyathi mensura quidam dederunt et contrav eterem tussim. rhagadas sedis e t pedum panosque

e t ungues scabros emendat , vulvae durit ias e t con

versione s , odore item le thargicos .

2 strumas cum

farina horde acea e t pueri inpubis urina decocta ad

suppurationem perducit . et ad alope cias sicca piceutuntur, ad mulierum mammas Bruttia ex vinosubferv e facta cum polline farraceo quam calidissimis 3

inpositis .

XXIV . Liquida pix oleumque quod pisse laeon

v ocant quemadmodum fieret di ximus. quidamiterum decocun t e t vocant palimpissam . liquidaanginae perunguntur intus . iuvat £1

aurium dolore s ,claritatem oculorum , oris circumlitiones , suspiriosos ,5

vulvas , tussim v e t erem e t crebras exscre ationes

1 inlinitur cum cera .] Haec verba post pituita ponenda

esse puta t Mayhoff , fortasse recte.

2 lethargicos . ] Ila dist. Urlichs.

3calidi ssimis] hic linteis add. M ayhoff .

4 iuv at aurium Detlefsen : et uv a , ( oleum iuv at) aur iumconi.

5suspiriosos Alexander Benedictus Mayhojf suspi

riosas multi codd .

Mayhofi would transpose the second part of this sentenceto the end of the preceding.

3 2

BOOK XXIV . xx111 . 3 8—XXIV. 4 0

honey a good remedy for qu insy , catarrhs and sne ez

ing caused by phlegm. M ixed with rose oil it ispoured into the ears , and with w ax it is compoundedinto an ointment .

“ It he als lichen and re laxe s thebowe ls expectoration it cases if used as an e le ctuaryor applied to the tonsils in combination with honey .

So used it also cleanse s sore s and fi lls them out .

With raisins and axle - gre ase it cleanse s carbuncle sand fe stering sore s ; for cre eping sore s , however, itis combined with pine bark or sulphur . Some

authoritie s have pre scribed it in close s of one cyathusfor consumption and chron ic cough . It cure s chapsin the seat , and on the fe e t , supe rficial absce sse s ,scabrous nails , indurations and displacements of the

uterus , and le thargus by inhalat ion .

b Scrofuloussore s it cause s to suppurate if boiled with barley mealand the urine of a child not ye t adole scent . Dry pitchis a lso used formange Brut tian pitch he ated in wine ,

with wheat meal , is applied to the breasts of women ,

the applications be ing as hot as can be borne .

c

XXIV . How liqu id pitch and the oil ca lled

pisselaeond are made has be en de scribed already .

e

Some boil it down twice and call it palimpissa . f Liquidpitch is employed for pa int ing quinsy internally . It

is good for ear—ache , for promoting clearne ss 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 making by inhalat ion apply to

uterine troubles .

Mayhoff’

s linteis means linen swabs used for the applications .

I .e . pitch oil.e See XVI . 52 .

f I.e. pitch (boiled) twice .

VOL. VII.

Liquid


pectoris , spasmos , tremore s , opisthotonos , paralysis ,nervorum dolores , praestantissimum ad canum e t

iumentorum scabiem .

XXV . Est e t pissasphaltos mixta bitumini picenaturalit er ex Apolloni atarum agro . quidam ipsimiscent . prae cipuum ad scabiem pecorum reme

dium aut si fe tus mammas laeserit matrum .

1opti

mum ex eo quod cum f erve t innatat .

XXVI . Z opissam e radinav ibus diximus ceramarinosale macerata . optima haec a tirocin io nav ium . additur autem in malagmata ad discutiendas collectiones.

XXVI I . Taeda de cocta 2 in aceto dentium dolore se fficaciter conluunt .

XXVII I . Lentisci ex arbore 3 et semen e t cortexet lacrima urinam cient , alvum sistunt . de coctumeorum ulcera quae serpunt fotu . inlinitur umidi s 4

e t igni sacro , gingivas conluit . folia dentibus in

dolore 5 atteruntur , mobiles decocto conluuntur ,capillum t inguit .

6 lacrima sedi s v itiis prodest , cumquid siccari excalfieriv e opus sit . de coctum e t e

lacrima7stomacho utile , ructum et urinam movens ,

1 matrum veterem lectionem secuti S illig, Detlefsen : nat ivumMayhoff , qui punctum post laeserit ponit : maturum codd.

2 taeda decocta Detlefsen : taedae decoctae M ayhoff, qui ex Plinio iuniore lacunam sic explat, in astulas con

cisae varia codd.

lentisci ex arbore Detlef sen lentisci arboris .Mayhofilentiscis EX arbores EV vulg.

4umidis Warmington in umidis codd.

5 in dolore vulg. , M ayhoff dolore codd. , Detlefsen .

11 t inguit codd. , Detlefsen t ingun t vulg. , Mayhofl’.

7 e lacrima codd. in uncis Mayhoff et delere vult S illig.

See Dioscorides I. 7 3 5 1 (Wellmann ) e’

v’

Ano v lg r f)npòs

’

Emddpvcp.

With Mayhofi’

s reading The best natural kind is thatwhich , etc.

3 4


quod et capitis d oloribus cum polenta illinitur .

folia tenera oculis infiammatis illinuntur . mas

tiche lent isci replicandi s palpebris e t ad e xtendendam cutem in facie e t zmegmata adhibetur , e t

sanguinem reicientibus , tussi v e teri , e t ad omniaquae acaciae vis .

1 medetur e t attritis partibus siveoleo e semine e ius facto ceraeque mixto , sive foliis exoleo decoctis , sive cum aqua ita 2 fov eantur. scioDemocratem medicum in valitudine Considiae M .

Servili consularis filiae omnem curationem austeram

recusant is diu e fficaciter usum lacte caprarum quaslentisco pascebat .

XXIX . Platani adv ersantur v espe rt ilionibus ,

pilulae carum in vino potae denariorum 1111 pon

de re omnibus se rpentium et scorpionum v enenis

item ambustis . tunsae autem cum ace to acrimagisque scillit e sanguinem omnem sistunt e t lenti

ginem e t carcinomata malandriasque v e teres additome lle emendant . folia autem e t cortex inlinunturcollectionibus e t suppurationibus , e t decoctum eorum ,

cortiois autem in ace to dentium remedium e st ,

foliorum tenerrima in vino a lbo decocta oculorum .

lanugo fIOrum 3e t auribus e t oculis inutilis . cinis

pilularum sanat ambusta igni v e l frigore . cortex e

vino scorpionum ictus restinguit .

1quae acaciae v is ex Dioscoride S illig, Detlefsen , ]lf ayhojj

c

quaev is , qua e ius, quae eis, que v is codd . : quae hammoniaci

v is vulg.

2 ita Mayhofl ut ita VdT : utilia X : v irilia Hermolaus Barbarus . Mngk-off ita emenda t si hae cum aqua ita fov eantur .

3 florum coni . Warmington : foliorum codd.

3 6

BOOK XXIV . XXVIII. 4 2—XXIX . 45

also applied with pearl barley for headache . The

tender le ave s are applied to inflamed eye s . The

mastio of'

the lentisk is applied for bending back theeye

—lashe s , for fi lling out and sm'

oothing the skin of

the face , be ing also use ful for spitting of blood ,chronic cough , and in all case s where the medica lpropertie s of gum acacia are called for. Abrasions aretreated by applying the oil made from the se ed of

lentisk mixed with w ax , or a decoction of the leave sin oil ; or they may be fomented with the se preparations and water . I know for a fact that when the

i llne ss of Considia , daughter of M arcus Serv ilius , aconsular, long re sisted all rigorous treatment , it w as

cured by the physician Democrites , w ho used the

milk of goats which he fed on the lentisk .

XXIX . The plane tre e neutralize s the poison O f the Theplc

bat ; its seed - globule s taken in wine in a dose of four

denarii act similarly on all poisons of serpents and seorpions , be side s healing burns . Pounded moreove r w ithstrong vinegar , e spe cially squ ill - se asoned vinegar , itche cks all bleeding , and with the addition of honeyremove s freckles , cancerous sore s and chron ic pustu le son the neck . The leave s moreover and bark makeointment for gatherings and suppurations ,and so doe sa decoction of them ; a de coction of the bark invinegar is a remedy for sore te e th , but for the eye s ade coction of the most tender leave s in white winemust

,

be_made . The down of the flowe rs is harmful

both to the ears and to the eye s . The ashe s of theburnt globule s he al burns and frost—bite s . The barkin wine allays the stings of scorpions .

Littré takes diu w ith usum. Query : w ho refused

rigorous treatment .”


XXX . Fraxinus quam v im adve rsus serpente shabere t indicav imus . semen foliis e ius inest , quae 1

medentur iocineris , lat erum doloribus in vino , aquamquae subit cutem extrahunt . corpus obesum levanton ere sensim ad maciem reducentia ,

2 isdem foliis cumvino tritis ad virium portionem , ita ut puero quinquefol ia tribus cyathis diluantur,

3robustioribus septem

folia qu inis vin i . non omit t endum ramenta e ius e t

scobem a quibusdam cav enda praedici.

XXXI . Aceris radix contunsa e vino iocineris

doloribus e fficacissime inponitur .

XXXII . Populi albae uv arum in unguentis usume xposuimus . cortex potus ischiadicis e t stranguriae

prodest , foliorum suons calidus aurium dolori .v irgam populi in manu t enent ibus intertrigo non

me tuatur .

‘1 popu lus nigra e fficacissima habetur quaein Creta nascitur . comitialibus semen ex ace toutile .

5 fundit illa e t re sinam exiguam , qua utuntur

ad malagmata . folia podagris in aceto decoctainponuntur . umor e cav is populi nigrae e ffluens e t 3

1quae cum duabus codd. , vulg. , S illig, Detlefsen : quo cum

duabus Mayhofi .

2reducent ia codd. reducent ibus M ayhofl

'

.

3 di luantur cum duabus codd . Detlefsen : diriv antur E

dentur vulg. : diribeantur Mayhofi qui conferi XI. 5 44 et

XXXVI . 118.

‘1 metuatur aut metuitur codd.

ut ile Mayhoff inditur Detlefsen in codd.

et attritu odoratus] post papulasque (sed cum vv. ll. )codd. ; transposuit Urlichs ; est a-ttritu odoratus in parenthesi

M ayhofi .

See XVI . 64 .

Le . the “ wings , in each of which a seed lies.

Le . winged seeds .

‘1 Book XII . 13 2 . Uvarum seems to refer to ca tkins .

Dioscorides I. 83 (\Vellmann ) says : rò a imî w 8dxpvov

BOOK XXIV . xxx . 46—xxx11 . 47

XXX . The power of the ash—tre e to neutralize the The ash

poison of snake s Ihave already mentioned .

“ The se edlie s betwe en its leave s ,”which in wine are used for painsin the liver and side s , and draw off the subcutaneouswater of dropsy . They le ssen corpu lence , gradua llyreducing the body to leanne ss . The se leave s C are alsobe aten up with wine in proportion to the strength of

the body ; for a child fiv e leaves are soaked in thre ecyathi of wine , for stronger patients seven leave s infiv e cyathi . I must not forge t the warn ing of some

authorities , w ho declare that the shavings and saw

dust of the ash are to be avoided .

XXXI . The root of the maple crushed in w ine The ma

make s a very e fficacious application for pains of theliver.

XXXII . The clusters of the white poplar, as I have The wh:

a lready described,al are used in making unguents . A pOpla"

draught made from the bark is good for sciatica and

strangury , and the juice of the le ave s , warmed , forear- ache . Those w ho hold in the ir hand a twig of

poplar need not fear chafing be tween the legs . The The bla

black poplar that grows in Crete is considered the pOplar°

most e fficacious ; the se ed in vinegar is good for

epilepsy . It also discharge s a small quantity of re sin ,

which is used for poultice s . A decoction of the leave sin vinegar is applied locally for gout . The moistureexuding from the hollows of the black poplar, and

giving out an odour °’ when applied with rubbing ,

Kar axeo'

pevov nfiyv voda 1. Ka l yiveo l9a 1. r ò KaÀov'

uevov

rpov 6 13638€ g e’

v r fi n apa‘

rpl1l1a . This points to a lacuna in

the text of Pliny (or possibly to a mistake or omission on the

part of Pliny himse lf ) , for though could easily be

rubbed , an umor could only be used in rubbing something else .

Yet Pliny’

s attritu odoratus is obv iously a translation of

something like ( 1311356 3 €v rfi n aparpigbez .


at tritu odoratus verrucas papulasque tollit . populif erunt e t in folii s guttam ex . qua apes propolimfaciunt . gutta quoque ad quae propolis ex aquaefiicax .

XXXI I I . Ulmi e t folia e t cortex e t rami v im hab entspissandi e t v olne ra contrahendi . cortiois utiqueinterior t ilia lepras sedat e t folia ex ace to inlita .

cortiois denarii pondus potum in hemina aquaefrigidae alv um purgat pituitasque e t aquas privatimtrahit . inponitur e t collectionibus lacrima et v ol

neribus e t ambustis quae decocto fov ere prodest .

umor in folliculis arboris huius nas cens cuti nitoreminducit faciemque gratiorem praestat . cauliculifoliorum primi vino decocti tumore s sanant e xtrahuntque per fistulas . idemprae stant e t t iliae corticis .

multi cort icem commanducatum v olneribus uti lissimum putant , folia trita aqua adspersa pedumtumori . umor quoque e medulla , uti diximus ,

castratae arboris e ffluens capillum reddit capitiinlitus definent esque continet .

XXXIV . Arbor tilia lenius ad eadem fere utilise st atque 1 ole aster . folia autem tantum in usu e t ad

infantium ulcera e t in ore , e t comm anducata e t

de cocta urinam cient ,mense s sistunt inlita , sanguinempota detrahun t .

1atque cum codd. f ere omnibus Detlefsen ad quae cum X

M ayhoff , qui atque con tra Plinii us um esse dicit.

This seems to be the meaning of spissare here be

cause oi volnera contrahendi immediate ly following. Spissare

is a common word in Pliny , usually wi thout an expressed ob

jcet , but in XXVI . 46 ad spissanda corpora seems to mean

to giv e tone to (bardem the body, ” as in Ce lsus II. i . g10,

40

BOOK XXIV . XXXI I . 47—xxx1v . 50

remove s warts and pimple s . Poplars a lso produce on

the ir le ave s drops from which be e s make be e—glue .

With water the se drops a lso have the same healingpropertie s as be e—glue .

XXXII I . The leave s , bark and branche s of the e lmare styptic ,‘1 and have the property of closing wounds .The inner bark in particular re l ieve s leprous sore s , asa lso does a local application of the leave s soaked invinegar. One denarius of the bark , taken in a heminaof cold water , purge s the bowe ls , be ing spe cific forcarrying off phlegms and watery humours . Its tear isalso applied loca lly to gatherings , wounds and burns ,which it is good to foment with a decoction . The

moisture forming in the pods of this tre e brings a

brightne ss to the skin andmake s the looks more pleasing . The tips of the little sta lks of the leave s boileddown in wine cure tumours and draw out the pus

through fistulas . The same property is shown by theinner barks . Many hold that the bark when chewed isvery good for wounds , and that the leave s , poundedand sprinkled with water , are so. for swollen fe e t . An

application of the moisture too , that exude s , as I

have said ,

b from the pith of the tree when lopped ,re store s hair to the scalp and prevents it from fallingout .

The elm

XXXIV . The linden tree is good for practica lly The lithe same purposes as the wild olive , but its action ismilder . Only its le ave s , however , are

‘

used both forbabie s ’ sores and for those in the mouth ; they may be

chewed or a de coction may be made of them ; theyare diure tic . Applied locally they che ck menstruat ion ; taken in drink they draw off extravasatedblood .

Book XVI. è 192.


XXXV . Sabucus habet a lterum genus magi ssilve stre quod Graeci chamaeact en , alii h e lion 1

vocant , multo brev ius . utriusque decoctum in v inov et eri, foliorum v el seminis v e l radi cis , ad cyathosbinos potum stomacho inutile est ,

2a lvo detrahens

aquam . refrigerat e tiam infiammationem , maxime

recentis ambusti,3

et can is morsum cum polentamollissimis foliorum inlitis . sucus cerebri colleetiones priv atimque membranae quae circa cerebrume st lenit in fusus . acini e ius infirmiores quam reliqua

tingunt capillum , poti acetabu li mensura urinammovent . foliorum mollis sima ex oleo e t sale eduntur

ad pituitam bilemque de trahendam . ad omniae fficacior quae minor . radicis e ius decoctae in vinoduo cyathi pot i hydropicos exinaniunt , volvasemolliunt , has e t foliorum decocta 4 insidentium .

caule s teneri mitioris 5 sabuci in patinis coct i alvum

solvunt , resistunt folia et serpentium ictibus in

vino pota . podagricis cum sebo hircino vehementer

prosunt cauliculi inliti ; iidem in aqua macerantur ut

sparsa ea pulices necentur . foliorum decocto silocus spargatur, muscae necantur . boa appe llatur

morbus papularum , cum rubent corpora; sabuci ramo

v erberatur . cortex interior tritus ex vino albo potusalvum solv it .

1 helion] add. acten e Dioscoride (€Àerog dxrr) ) H . Hafiter.

2est cum codd . Detlefsen : set ex Dioscoride (pe

'

yr oc) con i.Mayhofi . Pro inut ile f orta sse utile , quod in X in venitur.

3recent is ambust i codd. recentia ambusta Mayhojff.decocta codd . decoctum Mayhofi

'

.

5 minoris coni . Warmington coll . 5 1 mi tioris codd .

Infundo is used of administering food and drink generallyor of medicine in particul ar. Somet imes , but not as often as

ght be expected , it is us ed of inj ect ions . Here it seems tobe used , not of inj ections into the skull, but of anointing.

4 2


54 XXXVI . Iunipirus v el ante cetera omni a excalfacit ,ext enuat , cedro alias simili s . e t huius du

'

o genera ,altera minor altera . utraque accensa serpentesfugat . semen stomachi , pectoris , lateris doloribusutile . infl ationes algoresque discutit , tuss e s , con

coquit duritias . inlitum tumore s sistit , item alvum

bacis ex migro vino potis , item ventris tumore s inli tis .

misce tur et antidotis , oxyporis urinas cie t . inlinitur

e t oculis in epiphoris . datur conv olsis , ruptis , tor

minibus , volvis , ischiadicis cum vino albo potum

pilulis quaternis aut decoctis v iginti in vino . sunt

qui e t perunguant corpus 1 e semin e e ius in serpen

tium ictus .

2

XXXVI I . Salicis fructus ante maturitat em in ara

me am abit , sed, si prius colligatur, sanguinem reici

entibus prode st . cortiois e ramis primis cinis clav ume t callum aqua mixta sanat . vitia cutis in facie emen

dat , magis admìxto suco suo. e st autem hic trium

generum : unum arbor ipsa exsudat cummium modo ,

a ltero manat in plaga , cum fioret , exciso cortice triumdigitorum magnitudine . hic 3 ad expurganda quaeobst ent oculis , item ad spissanda quae opus suntciendamque urinam e t ad omne s collectione s intusextrahendas . tertius sucus est detruncatione ramo

1 Post corpus excidisse suco puta tM ayhofi .

2 ictus VT f , Detlef sen : metu uulg. , M ayhoff metus EX.

3 hic codd . v is M ayhofl'

.

Hard swellings or abscesses .

Galen uses o’

é1îrropov (or 6£vno'

pw v ) of a carminativ e ,sens e that suits v ery we ll XX. 65 and 5 256 . Mayhofi Is

surely right in putt ing a comma after anti/iotis , av oiding inthis w ay the awkwardness of taking oxyporus as an adj ectiv equicke cting Cf . Dioscorides III. 57 pe tyvu

'

u€ vov r aîg

(iv a-

1567 0 19 «a i o’

£vrrépow q ai/aw g .

Mayhofi’

s v is would mean : Its property 18 to clear

away, e tc.

”

44.

BOOK XXIV . XXXVI . 54—XXXVI I 57

XXXVI . Thejuniper , e v en above allotherremedies , The jm

is warming and a lleviates symptoms ; for the re st , itre semble s the cedrus . O f it there are tw o spe cies ,one smaller than the other. Either kind when se t on

fire ke eps off snake s . The se ed is beneficial for painsin the stomach , che st and side , dispe ls flatulence and

the fe e ling of chill , re lieve s coughs and mature sindurations .

“ Applied loca lly it che cks tumours the

berrie s'

taken in dark wine bind the bowe ls , and a

local application reduce s tumours of the be lly . Thefruit is also an ingredient of antidote s and of digestiveremedie s ,“ and is diure tic . It i s also applied locallyto the eye s for fluxe s , and it is used for spra ins ,rupture s , colic , uterine disorders and sciatica , e ither indose s of four berrie s with white wine , or a de coction of

twenty in w ine . There are also some w ho smear the

body with an extract of the seed as a protectionagainst snake - bite .

XXXVI I . The fruit of the willow be fore maturitydeve lops a kind of cobweb , but if it be gatherede arli er it is good for the spitting of blood . M ixedwith water

, the ash from the burnt bark of the tips ofthe branche s cure s corns and callositie s . It remove sspots on the face , more thoroughly when mixed w ithw illow juice . This ju ice , however, is of thre e kinds :one exudes like gum from the tre e itse lf ; the se condflows from an incision , thre e fingers wide , made in thebark while the tre e is in blossom . This sort is use fulfor cle aring away humours that obstruct the eye s ,also for thickening where that is necessary , forpromoting urine and for drain ing outwards all gatherings . The third kind of juice is obtained by lopping

The word spissare is difficult . See note on XXIV548.

The 20’i1


rum a falce dist illans . ex his ergo aliquis cum rosaceoin calyce punici calfactus auribus infunditur v e l fol iacocta et cum cera trita imponuntur .

1 item poda

gricis cortice et foliis in vino decoctis fov eri nervosutilissimum. flos tritus cum foliis furfure s purgat infacie . folia contrita e t pota intemperantiam libidiniscoercent atque in totum auferunt usum saepius

sumpta . Amerinae n igrae semen cum spuma argentipari pondere a balneo inlitum psilotrum est .

XXXVII I . Non multum a salice v itilium usu distat

vitex , foliorum quoque adspectu , nisi odore gratiore sse t . Graeci lygon vocant , alias agnon , quoniammatronae Thesmophoriis A theniensium castitatemcustodientes his foliis cubitus sibi sternunt . duo

genera e ius maior in arborem salicis modo adsurgit ,m inor ramosa , foliis candidioribus , lanuginosis .

prima album florem mittit cum purpureo , quae e t

candida v ocatur , nigra quae tantum purpureum .

nascuntur in palustribus campis . semen potum vini

quendam saporem habe t e t dicitur febre s solvere e t ,

cum unguantur oleo admixto , sudorem facere , sicutlassitudinem dissolvere . urinam cien t e t mense s .

caput t emptant vini modo— nam et odor similise st 2— inflationes pellunt in inferiora , alvum sistunt ,

hydropicis e t lienibus perquam utile s . lactis ubertatem faciunt , adv ersantur v enenis serpentium ,

1 Ita dist. M ayhofi , Dioscoridem et S erenum secutus . Comma

post imponuntur, punctum post podagricis Detlef sen .

2est cum tribus codd. Detlef sen et cum duabus S illig : set

lll ayhojf .

Or, from or“after using. Cf . a balneo 58 .

The plura] v erb seems to imply that either kind of agnus

may be used.

46

BOOK XXIV . XXXVI I . 57- XXXVI I I . 6 1

off the branche s , when it drips under “ the sickle .

One , then , of these juice s warmed in a pomegranaterind with rose oil is poured into the ears , or a localapplication ismade of the boiled leave s beaten up w ithw ax . For gout too it is most use ful to foment thesinews with a de coction of the bark and le ave s in wine .

The blossom beaten up with the le ave s remove s scurfon the face . The leave s thoroughly pounded and

taken in drink che ck over—lustful de sire ; too manydose s produce absolute impotence . The seed of the

black wi llow of Ameria with an equa l we ight of

litharge , applied after the bath , acts as a depilatory .

XXXVI I I . The agnus castus is not ve ry differentfrom the wi llow, e ither for its use in wicke rwork or in

the appearance of its leave s , but i t has amore pleasantsme ll . The Gre eks ca ll it lygos , sometime s agnos ,be cause the Athenian matrons , pre serving the irchastity at the The smophoria , strew the ir beds withits “leave s . There are tw o kinds of it . The largergrows up to be a tree like the willow ; the smaller isbranchy , with paler , downy leave s . The first bearspa le blossom with some purple in it , and is called thewhite agnus ; the other , which bears on ly purpleblossom , is called the dark agnus . They grow on

marshy pla ins . The se ed taken in drink has a tastesomewhat like wine ; it is said to reduce fevers , tostimu late perspiration when applied as embrocationwith oil , and a lso to dispe l lassitude . The tre e s “furn ish medicine s that promote urine and menstru

ation . They go to the he ad like wine— for the sme lltoo is s imilar— d rive flatulence into the lower bowe ls ,check diarrhoea , and greatly benefit dropsy and

splen ic disease s . They encourage abundant richmilk , and neutralize the poisons of serpents , e spe cially

47

The 1191

castus .


maxime quae frigus inferunt , minor e fficacior ad

serpente s , bibitur seminis drachma in vino v e l poscaaut duabus foliorum t enerrimorum . e t inlinuntur

utraque adversus araneorum morsus ; v e l perunctis

tantum , suffitu quoque aut substratu fugant venenata .

ad venerem impetus inhibent , eoque maxime

phalangiis adv ersantur, quorum morsus genitalee xcitat . capitis dolorem ex ebrie tate sedant cumrosaceo fios t enerique cauliculi . seminis decoctumv ehementiorem capitis dolorem di ssolv it fotu , e t

vulv am e tiam suffitu v el adpositu purgat , alvum cpule io e t me lle potum . vomicas e t panos di fficileconcoquentes

1cum farina hordeace amollit . lichenas

e t lentigine s cum aphronitro e t ace to semen sanat , e toris ulcera e t e rupt ionum

2cum me lle , te stium cum

butyro e t foliis vit ium , rhagadas sedi s cum aquaillitum , luxata

3cum sa le e t nitro e t cera . cum

semine et folium 5additur in malagmata

nervorum e t podagras . semen instillatur in oleode coctum capiti in le thargia e t phrenesi. v irgam

qui in manu habeant aut in cinctu n egantur intertriginem sentire .

1concoquentes excepto X codd. concoquent tus i X

concoquens Mayhofl .

2erupt ionum] erupt iones ulcerum vel eorum coni . M ayhoff .

3 luxata E, Detlefsen luxat is cummultis codd. .Mayhoff , quiita emenda i : cum sale et nitro et cera et semine <ut ilissimae)et folio. additur in malagmata { ad v it ia) nerv orum etc.

4cum ego et codd . et edd .

5 folium E folio ce leri codd .

Excidit hic a liquid, ad dolorem vel ad v it ium.

Force llini s.v . concoguo supplies collectum pus . If the

reading be correct this w ill be the right explanat ion , as concoquo

seems nev er to be us ed intrans it iv ely. The MS . X has facile

48

BOOK XXIV . XXXVI I I . 61—6 3

those that bring on chill . The sma ller kind make sthe more e ffe ctive remedie s for the bite of serpents ;one drachma of the se ed , or tw o of the most tenderle ave s , is taken in wine , or in vinegar and water. Eithe rkind make s a liniment for the bite s of spiders ; mere

smearing drive s away poisonous cre ature s , as doe sfumigation also , or placing some of the plant underthe bed . They che ck violent sexual de sire , and

for this reason in particular they act as antidote s tothe venomous spider , the bite of which excite s thegenitals . The blossom and tender shoots mixed withrose O il cle ar away headache due to intoxication .

The se ed take s away by fomentation with a de coctionthe more severe type of headache , purge s the uterusalso by fumigation or a pe ssary , and the bowe ls ifdrunk with pennyroyal and honey . Boils and superficial absce sse s that re fuse to come to a head are

softened by an application of it with barley meal .With saltpe tre and vinegar the se ed cure s lichens andfreckle s , with honey sore s of the mouth and of

eruptions those of the te ste s with butter and vineleave s , chaps in the seat when applied with water , dislocations when applied with salt , soda and w ax . W iththe se ed the leave s too are added to plasters ( for there lie f of pa inful) sinews and of gout . A decoction of

the se ed in oil is poured in drops on the head of

sufferers from le thargus or phren itis . It is said thatthose w ho ke ep a twig in the ir hand or in the irgirdle do not suffer from chafing be tween the thighs .

concoquent tusi, showing that some scribes felt the difficulty .

With Mayhofi’

s conjecture translate : With barley meal itsoftens , though it matures them with difficulty, boils , etc.

”

Mayhofi’

s conjecture woul d giv e sores in the mouth

and erupt ions of them.

”He compares XXII 54 ulcerum

eruptiones.


XXXIX . Ericen Graeci v ocant fruticem non

multum a vitice 1 differentem, colore roris marini e t

paene folio . hoc adv e rsari serpentibus tradunt .

XL. Gen ista quoque v inculi usum. praestat , fiorisapibus gratissimi. dubito an haec sit quam Graeci

auctore s sparton appe llav ere , cum ex ea lina piscatoria apud eos factitari docue rim , e t numquid hancdesignav erit Homerus , cum dixit nav ium spartadissoluta . nondum enim fuisse Hispanum Africanumv e spartum in usu certum est , e t cum fierent

sutile s nave s , lino tamen , non Sparto umquam sutas .

semen e ius , quod Graeci eodem nomine appe llant infolliculis passiolorum modo nascens purgat he lleborivice drachma e t dimidia pota in aquae mulsae cyathis

quattuor ieiunis . rami simul e t fronde s 2 acetomacerati pluribus diebus e t tunsi sucum dantischiadicis utilem cyathi unius potu . quidam marinaaqua macerare malunt e t infundere clystere . perunguntur eodem succ ischiadici addito oleo. quidame t ad stranguriam utuntur semine . genista tunsacum axungia genua dolentia sanat .

1a v itice 67 colla to Mayhoff : a myrice E , Detlefsen.

2simul et frondes ego ex M ayhofl

‘ii coniecturis similiterfronde i Ianus , Detlef sen similiter fronde codd.

With the reading myrice, tamarisk.

Book XIX . 5 15 .

See Iliad II. 13 5, omipra. Àe’

Àuvra 1 . Pliny , as Varro in


XLI . Myricen1

ericam vocat Lenaeus similem

scopis Amerinis ; sanari dicit e a carcinomata in v inodecocta tritaque cum me l le inlita . e andem e ssearbitrantur qu idam tamaricen . sed ad lienem

praecipua e st ,2 si sucus e ius expressus in vino bibatur .

adeoque mirabilem e ius antipathian contra solumhoc viscerum faciunt , ut adfirment , si ex e a alv e is

factis bibant sues sine liene inv eniri . e t ideo hominiquoque splen ico cibum potumque dant in vasis ex e a

factis . grav i s autem auctor in medi cina v irgam ex

ea de fractam , ut neque te 1ram neque ferrum attinge 1 e t , sedare ventris dolore s adsev erav it inpositamita ut tun ica cinctuque corpori adprimere tur. volgus

infelicem arborem eam appe llat , ut diximus , quoniamnihil ferat nec seratur umquam.

XLII . Corinthus e t quae circa e st Graecia bryanvocat e iusque duo gen era facit , silv estrem planesterilem , alte ram mitiorem . haec fert in Aegypto

Sy11aque etiam abundant er lignosum fructum

ma10 1 em galla , asperum gustu , quo medici utunturvice gallae in compositionibus quas antheras v ocant .

e t lignum autem e t flos e t folia e t cortex in eosdemusus adhibentur , quamquam remi ssiora . datur

sanguinem reicientibus corte x tritus et contra profluv ia feminarum , coeliacis quoque . idem tunsus

‘

1 Myricen ericam Mayhojff Myricen iam ericam Ianus ,Detlefsen muricen eam ericam codd.

2sed ad lienem praecipua est] ita Detlefsen cum codd . : et

ad lienem praecipuam M ayhojf , qui post tamaricen puncturn

tollit.

See XVI . 108 . Perhaps, nev er grows from seed .

For coeliacus morbus see Celsus IV. 19 51. W . G . Spencer

in hi s last note on that passage says that Celsus appears to

52

BOOK XXIV . xm. 67—XL11 . 70

XLI . Lenaeus ca lls the myrice (tamarisk) erica Tamar

(heath) , comparing it to the brooms of Ameria . He

says that boiled in wine , be aten up with hon'

ey , and

applied to cancerous sore s it heals them . Some

authorities consider it to be the same as tamarice .

But it is spe cific for splen ic trouble if its juice ise xtracted and drunk in wine ; so wonderful do theymake out its antipathy to be to this interna l organ,and to this only , that they affirm that if pigs drinkout of troughs made of this wood they are found to bewithout a sple en . And for that reason they give toa man also , if he has an en larged spleen , food and

drink in ve sse ls made O f tamarisk . A re spe ctedmedical authority , moreover , has asse rted that a

twig , broken O ff from it without its touching the

ground or iron , re lieve s be l ly—ache , if it be so

applied as to be pre ssed to the body by the tun ic andthe girdle . The

“common people , as I have sa id ,

’

callthis tre e unlucky , be cause it be ars no fruit and neveris planted .

XLII . Corinth and the part of Gre e ce around it call Brytl .brya a tre e of which they distinguish tw o kinds : thewild

,which is absolute ly barren , and the cultivated .

The latter m Egypt and Syria bears , and that- abundantly, large - stoned fruit bigger than a gall—nu t and

bitter to the taste ; which - physicians use instead -

of

gall—nuts in the medical mixture s which they callantherae. The wood a lso , and the blossom, le ave s and

“

bark,are used for the same purposes , a lthough theyare le ss potent . The pounded bark is: given for theSpitting of blood and for exce ssive menstruation, alsoto sufferers from coe liac disease .

° An applieation'

ò f

describe pyloric spasm and intest ina l atony, re ferring als'

o'

toAretaeus II. 7 n epi KOLALGKfiS See list Of diseases.


inpositusque collectiones omne s inhibe t . foliis ex

primitur sucus ad hae c eadem. e t in vino decocuntur ,

1 ipsa vero adiecto me lle gangraenis inlinuntur.

de coctum eorum in vino potum v el ipsa 2 impositacum rosaceo e t cera 3

sedant . sic e t epinyctidas

sanant , dentium dolori et aurium decoctum eorum

salutare est , radix ad e adem simi liter. fol ia hoc

amplius ad e a quae serpunt inponuntur cum polenta .

semen drachmae pondere adversus phalangia e t

araneos bibitur , cum altilium vero pingui furunculisinponitur . e fficax e t contra serpentium ictus praeterquam aspidum . nec non morbo regio , phthiriasi,lendibus de coctum in fusum prodest abundantiamquemulierum sistit . cinis arboris ad omnia eadem pro

de st . aiunt , si bovis castrati urinae immisce atur v e lin potu v el in cibo , venerem finiri. carbo ex eo

genere urina e a restinctus in umbra conditur. idemcum lìbe at accendere j

‘

resolv itur T.

4 M agi id e t spa

don is urina fieri tradiderunt .

1 deoocun tur : decoqui tur coni. M ayhofi puncto post eademdeleto.

2 ipsa add . S illig lacunam indica t lll ayhofi Ianurn secutus .

3cera codd . ceria Detlefsen . Portasse ul cera pro et cera .

4resolvi tur codd. : restituitur Mayhofl

'

: igni add. Io. M i dler.

Vossius coni. carbo ext incta v enere ur ina ea restinctus in

umbra conditur , idem, si lìbeat accendere rursum, uritur .

Sedani here is apparently w ithout a direct obj ect . Detlefsen has ceria , for which follicul ar abscesses see Ce lsus V. 28

g13 . Mayhofî , recording thi s conj ecture , adds non conveniens

sedandi verbo. But Pliny has tumorem and scabiem as direct

objects of sedare. Perhaps w e shoul d read ulcera for et cera .

Either night rash from fiea bite s or an eye disease . See

list of dis eases .

Tw o v iews hav e been taken of thi s sentence . One is that

it giv es 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 leave s is extracted a juice employed for thesame purpose s . The le aves are also decocted in

wine ; but by themse lve s with honey added theyare applied to gangrenous sores . A decoction of

them taken in wine or the le ave s themse lve s appliedlocally w ith rose oil and w ax are soothing .

“ So usedthey a lso cure epinyctis b

a de coction of them is he aling to tooth - ache and ear- ache ; the root is similarlyused for the same purpose s . The le ave s furthermore

are applied with pe arl barley to spreading ulcers . A

drachma by we ight of the se ed is taken in drink forthe poison of phalangia and other spiders ; it isapplied however with chicken fat to boils . It is an

antidote also to the poison of serpents except that ofthe asp. It is also good for j aundice , phthiriasis andnits , if a de coction is used as a linimen t , and thistoo checks e xce ssive menstruation . The ash from the

tre e is good“

for all the same purpose s . They say that ifit is mixed with the urine of a castrated ox and taken

e ither drink or food it is antaphrodisiac . A burningcoal of this wood is quenched with the urine mentionedand kept in the shade . This , when you want to lightit , crumble s to powder.

c The Magi have recordedthat the urine of a eunuch a lso has the same e ffect .

extracted from the reading of the MSS . Mayhofî’

s res tituitur

requires venerem as the understood direct object of accendere ;in other words , the sentence giv es , not a method of preparingthe mixture , but one of counteracting it . The conj ectures ofVoss put thi s v iew far more clearly. A burning cca ] , whendesire is quenched, is put out by such urine and stored in a

shady place ; if the wish to kindle desire comes back, the

same cca ] is burned.

”The rekindling of the coa l rekindles

sexua l desire by imitativ e magic. This interpre tat ion commends itself to student s of folk - lore , but is based on boldand dubious conjecture .


XLIII. Nec virga sanguinea felicior habetur.

corte x e ius interior cicatrice s quae praesanuere

aperit .

XLIV . Sileris folia inlita fronti capitis dolore ssedant . e iusdem semen contritum in oleo phthiriasis coerce t . serpente s e t hunc fruticem fugiunt

baculumque rustici ob id ex eo gerunt .

XLV . Ligustrum si e adem arbor e st quae in

oriente cypros , suos in Europa usus habet . sucus

e ius nervos , articulos , algore s , folia ubique v e teri

u lceri , cum sa lis mica et oris exulcerationibus prosunt ,acin i contra phthiriasim , item contra intertrigines v e lfolia . sanant e t gallinaceorum pituitas acini .XLVI. Folia alni ex fe rventi aqua remedio sunt

tumoris .

XLVII. Hederae genera v iginti demonstrav imus .

natura omnium in medicina anceps . mentem turbatet caput purgat largius pota , nervis intus noce t ,

iisdem nervis adhibita foris prodest . e adem natura ,quae ace to est , omn ia genera e ius re frigerant .urinam cient potu , capitis dolorem sedant , praecipue

cerebro continentique cerebrum membranae utilit er

Inlinere is nearly always used of lin iments and ointments,which can be smeared on the part s a ffected. Here apparent lyit is used of leav es just placed on the forehead, the wordused in such cases be ing genera lly imponere (see also 76

below) . Perhaps , howev er, the leav es are to be applied insome liquid or oily base .

Phthi'

riasis (plural ) in the Latin is a transliteration of the

Greek ò9a pu1'

aecs .

Some v erb seems to hav e fa llen out here . Mayhofi? con

jectures discutz t, which suits algares but not nervos or articulos .

Curat would suit a l] three noun s ; but , although cura re (“to

treat is used sev era l t imes in Celsus with the meaning to

treat successfully ,

’

it is apparently not so found in Pliny .

Brakman w ould supply sanat. See MnemosJne 193 0 .

56

BOOK XXIV . XLIII. 73—XLV11 . 75

XLIII. Nor is t he red - twigged tre e considered Cornet.

more lucky . Its inner bark opens scars which havehe aled too soon .

'XLIV . The leave s of siler applied “ to the fore su…

head re lieve headache . The se ed of it too crushedin oil checks phthiriasisf

’ Serpents ke ep away fromthis shrub also , and for this reason rustics carry a

walking stick made of it .

XLV . Prive t , if it is the same tre e as the cypros of Priva .

the East , has its ow n use s in Europe . Its ju icebenefits sinews , joints and chills ; its le ave s everywhere are used to tre at chron ic ulcer and , with a

sprinkling of salt , sore s in the mouth ; the berrie s areemployed for phthiriasis , and the berrie s or the leavesfor chafing be tween the thighs . The berrie s alsocure the pip in chickens .

XLVI. The le ave s of the alder in very hot water The ald<

are a remedy for tumours .XLVII. I have pointed out d twenty kinds of ivy .

Ivy.

The medicinal propertie s of all are twofold in action .

Ivy derange s the mind and also clears the head whentaken too copiously in drink ; 6 taken internally it injures sinews , while an external application doe sthem good . A ll kinds of ivy , be ing of the same character as vinegar, are of a cooling nature . They are diu

retie when taken in drink ; they re l iev e headache ;e spe cially beneficia] to the brain and to the membrane

Book XVI. è 141 H.

The word anceps in the preceding sentence , and the con

trasted nocet prodes i in the second clause of this , indicatethat there is also a contrast in the first clause . The translat iongiv en abov e suggests that a strong dose ismentally harmful butphysically beneficial, but it must be admitted that in the Lat inthe contrast would be plainer if for et were to be read a i or sed

(Mayhoff often reads set) . But the MSS . show no variants.

57


mollibus inpositis foli is cum aceto e t rosaceo tritis e t

decoct is , addito postea rosaceo oleo . inlinuntur

autem fronti,e t decocto eorum fov e tur os caputque

perunguitur. lieni e t pota e t inlita prosunt . decoc

untur e t contra horrore s febrium eruptionesque

pitu itae aut in vino t eruntur . corymbi quoque poti

v e l inliti li enem sanant , iocine ra autem inliti. tra

hunt e t mense s adpositi. sucus hederae taedi a

narium grav eolentiamque emendat , praecipue albae

sativae . idem inf usus naribus caput purgat , e ffica

cius addito nitro . infunditur e tiam purulentis

auribus au t dolentibus cum oleo . cicatricibus quoque

de corem facit . ad lienes e fficacior a lbae ferro cale

factus . satis est acinos sex in vini cyathis duobus

sumi . acini ex e adem a lba temi in aceto mulso poti

taenias pellunt , in qua curatione ventri quoque

inposuisse eos utile e st . hedera quam chrysocarpon

appe llav imus bacis aure i coloris v iginti in vini sextario

tritis , ita ut terni cyathi potentur , aquam quae cutem

subierit urina educit . Eras istratus eiusdem acinos

quinque tritos in rosaceo oleo cale factosque in cortice

punici instillav it dentium dolori a contraria aure .

acini qui croci sucum habent praesumpti potu a

crapula tutos praest ant , item sanguinem excreant es

See XVI. 147.

58


aut torminibus laborante s . hederae n igrae candidiore s corymbi poti sterile s e tiam fi ros faciunt :

inlinitur decocta quaecum que in vino omni 1

ulcerum generi , etiamsi cacoethe sint . lacrima

hederae psilotrum est phthiriasimque tollit . fios

cuiuscumque gen eris trium digitorum captu dysinte

ricos e t alvum citam emendat in vino austero bis diepotus . e t ambustis inlinitur utiliter cum cera .

denigrant capillum corymbi. radicis sucus in ace topotus contra phalangia prodest . huius quoque lignivaso spleni cos bibentes sanari inv enio . et acinost erunt moxque comburunt e t ita inlinunt ambusta

prius perfusa aqua calida . sunt et qui incidant suoigratia eoque utantur ad dente s erosos , frangi que

tradunt , proximis cera munitis ne laedantur. gummi

e tiam in h edera quaerunt , quam ex ace to utilissimam

dentibus promittunt .

XLVIII. Graeci v icino vocabulo cisthon appe llantfruticem maiorem thymo , foliis ocimi . duo e iusgenera fios masculo rosaceus , f eminae a lbus . ambo

prosunt dysint ericis et solutionibus ventris in vinoaustero terni s digitis fiore capto e t similiter“

bis die

pote , ulceribus v et eribus e t ambustis cum cera e t per

se oris ulceribus . sub his maxime nascitur hypocisthis , quam inter herbas dicemus .

1omni M ayhofl

'

(Appendix) : omnium codd.

See XXVI. 49 .

60

BOOK XXIV . XLVII. 78—x1.v111. 8 1

colic . The whiter clusters o f the dark ivy taken in

drink make even men sterile . A de coction in wine of

any kind of ivy is applied locally to every kind of

ulcer , even if it is ma lignant . The te ars of the ivyact as a depilatory and remove phthiriasis . The blossom of any sort of ivy , taken in dry wine twice a day,a three - finger pinch at a time , corre cts dysentery and

looseness of the bowe ls . With w ax it is use ful as an

ointment for burns . The cluste rs turn the hair black.

The juice of the root , taken in vinegar , is good for thebite of poisonous spiders . I find also that patientswith dise ase s of the sple en are cured if they drink froma ve sse lmade of this wood . They crush too the berries

,

then burn them , and in this w ay apply them to burnsthat have previously be en bathed with warm water.

There are also some w ho make incisions in ivy forthe sake of the juice , which they use for de cayedte e th ; they say that the te e th bre ak off , those neare stbe ing protected by w ax le st they should be injured .

They obtain also a gum from ivy , which in vinegar isrecommended as very use ful for the tee th .

XLVIII. The Greeks give the name cisthos , which Cisthos.

is very like cissos (ivy) , to a shrub larger than thyme

and with leave s like those of ocimum . There are tw okinds of it ; the flower of the male is rose—coloured , of

the female , white . Both are good for dysentery and

loosene ss of the bowe ls , the dose be ing as much of the

blossom as can be taken in thre e fingers , this quantityto be swallowed in a dry wine twice a day ; for

chron ic ulcers and for burns the blossom is appliedwith w ax , and by itse lf for ulcers in the mouth .

It is e specially under the se shrubs that there growsthe hypocisthis , which I shall de scribe when I treatof herbs .


XLIX . Cissos erythranos ab iisdem appe llatur

similis hederae , coxendicibus utilis e vino potus , itemlumbis , tanta vi acini ut sanguinem urina detrahat .

item chamaecisson appe llant hederam non attollentem se a terra . e t haec contunsa in vino ace tabulimensura lieni mede tur , folia ambustis cum axungia .

milax quoque , quae 1anthophoros cognominatur ,

similitudinem hederae habet , t enuioribus foh1s .coronam ex ea

2 factam inpari foliorum numero aiunt

capitis doloribus mederi . quidam duo genera milacisdixere : alterum 3 inmortalitati proximum 3 in con

v allibus opacis , scandentem arbore s ,4 comantibus

acinorum corymbis , contra venenata omn ia e fficacis

simum in tantum ut acinorum succ infantibus saepeinstillato nulla sint 5 poste a venema nocitura . alterumgenus culta amare e t in his gigni , nullius eff ectus .

illam e sse milacem priorem cuius lignum ad aure ssonare diximus. similem hu ic aliqui clematida

appellaverunt , repentem per arbore s , geniculatamet ipsam. folia e ius lepras purgant ; semen alvum

solv it ace tabuli mensura in aquae hemina aut aquamulsa . datur ex e adem causa e t decoctum e ius .

1quae M ayhoff qui aut quia aut qui et codd.

2ea ill ayhofi eo codd .

3a lterum proximum] a lteram proximam

4arbores H ermolaus Barbarus : arborum codd . : arborem

coni . Mayhofi . Inter arborum et comantibus lacunam sta tuii

Urlichs, quem seqm'

tur Detlefsen .

5eflicacissimum in tantum ut nulla sint etc.

ego conicio : efficacissimi sine ut et sint cum codd. ,Detlef

sen : ut et (post nocitura ) sint vulg. efficacissime iuv antemMayhofl

'

, qui post succ dist. et quippe pro saepe com‘

.

62

BOOK XXIV . XLIX. 82—84

XLIX . The plant ca lled cissos erythranos by the PlantsGre eks is like ivy . Taken in wine it is good forsciatica and lumbago ; so strong is the propertyof the berry that it brings away blood in the urine .

Chamaecissos again is the name they give to an ivythat never rise s from the ground . This too crushedin wine and taken in close s of an ace tabu lum euros

splen ic trouble ; the leave s with axle - grease are

applied to burns . The mi lax also , which has the

further name of anth0phoros (fiow er- bearer) , has a

likene ss to the ivy , though the le ave s are more slender .

A chaplet of it made with an odd number of leave s issaid to be a cure for he adache . Some authoritie s havedeclared that there are tw o kinds of milax . One isvery ne arly everlasting , grows in shaded valleys , is aclimber of tre e s , be ars be rrie s in luxuriant clusters , andis most e fficacious aga inst all poi sonous things to sucha degre e that , if the juice of the berries is repeatedlyadmin istered in drops to babie s , no poison will hereafter do them any harm . The other kind is said to befond of cultivated ground and to grow there , havingno medicina] value . The former mi lax they state tobe the one the wood of which , w e said ,

b give s out a

sound when placed close to the e ar. Like it is theplant that some have called clematis ,

c which climbsalong tre e s and is itse lf jointed . Its le ave s cleanseleprous sore s ; its se ed loosens the bowe ls if an

ace tabulum of it is taken in a hemina of water or in

hydrome l . A decoction of it is administe red for thesame purpose .

Instillato is di ffi cult . The v erb is of ten used of droppinginto the ears , and that may be the meaning here , but auribuswould be expected . Perhaps Pliny wrote infaniium auribus ,which might easily be te lescoped into infantibus .

See XVI. 155. See Index of Plants .


L . Harundinis genera xxvm demonstrav imus , non

aliter ev identiore illa naturae vi quam continuis

his v oluminibus tractamus , siquidem harundinis

radix contrita inposita filicis st irpem corpore extrahit ,

item harundinem filicis radix . e t quo plura generafaciamus ,

1 illa quae in Iudae a 2 Syriaque nascitur

odorum unguentorumque causa . urinam mov et cum

gramine aut apii semine decocta , ciet et menstruaadmota . mede tur conv ulsis duobus obolis pota ,

iocineri , renibus , hydropi , tussi e tiam suffitu magisque

cum re sina , furfuribus ulcerumque manant ibus cum

murra decocta . excipitur e t sucus e ius fitque e lateriosimilis . e fficacissima in omni harundine quae proxima radici ,3 e fficaciora genicula . harundo Cypria ,

quae donax v ocatur , corticis cin ere alope cias emen

dat , item putrescentia ulcera . foli is e ius ad e xtrahendos aculeos utuntur, e fficacibus e t contra igne ssacros collect ionesque omne s . vulgari s harundo

extractoriam v im habet 4 recens tusa , non in radi cetantum , multi 5 enim e t ipsam harundinem tradunt .

mede tur e t luxatis e t spinae doloribus radix in ace toinlita , e adem recens trita e t in vino pota veneremconcitat . harundinum lanugo inlata auribus obtun

dit auditum .

1 faciamus Detlefsen facimus aut fecimus codd .

2 Iudaea Mayhojff , Detlefsen , cum codd . : India HermolausBarbara s .

3radici aut radice codd. a radice Detlefsen .

Hic in codd . et scriptum est.5 mult iDetlefsen : in mulso Mayhojjf, qui Cels . V. 26, 3 5

con/eri : multu codd .

64

BOOK XXIV . L. 85—87

L. I have pointed out twenty - e ight kinds of reed ,Reeds.

and nowhere is more obvious that force of Naturewhich I de scribe in the se books one after an

other, if inde ed the root of the re ed , crushedand applied , draws a fem stem out of the fle sh ,

while the root of the fem doe s the same to a splinterof re ed . To increase the number of the variousre eds there is that which grows in Judaea andSyria andis used for scents and unguents boiled down with grassor ce lery se ed this is diure tic , and when made intoa pe ssary acts as an emmenagogue . A cure for

sprains , for trouble s of the liver and of the kidneys , and for dropsy , is tw o oboli taken in drink ;for a cough a lso inhalation is used , the addition of

re sin be ing an improvement ; for scurf and runningsore s is used a de coction with myrrh . Its j uice a lsois collected and made into a drug like e laterium.

Of all re eds the parts neare st the root are the

most eflicacious , and the joints are more e fficacious

than other parts . The Cyprian re ed , ca lled donax ,has a bark which , reduced to ash , is a remedy formange and also for fe ste ring sore s . Its le ave s are

used for extracting splinters , and are also good fore rysipe las and for all gatherings . The common re edhas the power to e xtract if fre shly pounded , and not

the root only , for many hold that the reed itse lftoo has this property . The root applied in vinegarcure s dislocations and pains of the spine ; the same

ground fre sh and taken in wine is aphrodisiac . The

down on re eds placed in the ears deaden s the

hearing .

See XVI. è 156 ff .Another possible rendering is the parts nearest the root

are v ery efiicacious and the joints are more efii cacious st ill

VOL. VII.


LI. Cognata in Aegypto res e st harundini papyrum ,

1praecipuae utilitatis , cum inaruit , ad laxandas

siccandasque fistulas e t intumescendo ad introitum

medicamentorum aperiendas . charta quae fit ex eo

cremata inter caustica e st . cinis e ius ex vino potussomnum facit , ipsa ex aqua inposita callum sanat .

LII. Ne in Aegypto quidem nascitur hebenus , ut

docuimus , nec tractamus in medicina aliemos orbe s ,non omitte tur tamen propter miraculum . scobem

e ius oculis unice mederi dicunt , lignoque ad cotemtrito cum passo caliginem di scuti , ex aqua vero radicealbugine s oculorum , item tussim pari modo dracuncu li radicis adiecto cum me lle . hebenum medici etinter erodent ia adsumunt .

LIII. Rhododendros ne nomen quidem apud nos

invenit Latinum, rhododaphnen vocant aut nerium .

mirum folia e ius quadripedum venenum e sse , hominivero contra se rpente s prae sidium ruta addi ta e vinopota . pecus e tiam e t caprae , si aquam biberint in

qua folia e a maduerint , mori dicuntur.

LIV. Nec rhus Latinum nomen habe t , cum in

usum pluribus modis v eniat . nam e t herba est

silv estris , foliis myrti , cauliculis brev ibus , quae taenias1 Nannulli papyrus mulini.

Both Littré and the Bohn translators understand herbawith ipsa , trans lat ing as in the text . But the sudden change

of gender f rom neuter to femin ine is startling, and perhapswith ipsa is to be understood charta .

See XII. 17 .

These are all Greek words : ;50 80'

50 8p0 5 or p'

oBo'

8w 8pov

(rose tree ), p'

0 80 8a’

95v77 (rose bay ) and v1jpcov . The shrub is

66


pe llit , e t frutex coriarius appe llatur, subrutil_us ,cubitalis , crassitudine digitali , cuius aridis foliis ut

malicorio coria perficiuntur . medi ci autem rhoicis

utuntur ad contusa , item coeliacos e t sedis u lcera aut

quae phagedaenas vocant . trita cum me lle et inlita

cum aceto decoctum eorum instillatur auribus

purulentis . fit e t stamatice decoctis rami s ad e ademquae ex moris sed efficacior admixto alumine .

inlini tur e adem hydropicorum tumori .LV . Rhus qui erythros appellatur semen est huius

fruticis . vim habet adstringendi re frigerandi que .

adspergitur pro sale obsoniis alvo soluta , omnesque

carnes cum silphio suaviores facit . mede tur u lceribus manantibus cum me lle , asperitati linguae , percussis liv idis , desquamatis ; e adem modo capitisvulnera ad cicatricem celerrime perducit , feminarumabundantiam sistit cibo .

LVI. A lia res erythrodanum , quam aliqui ereutho

danum vocant , nos rubiam , qua t inguntur lanae

pellesque perficiuntur. in medicina urinam ciet ,

morbum regium sanat ex aqua mulsa , e t lichenas ex

aceto inlita , ischiadicos , paralyticos ita ut bibentes

lav entur cotidie . radix semenque trahunt mense s ,alvum sistunt e t collectiones di scutiunt . contra

Dioscorides (I. 108, Wellmann ) has rrrepv'

yw'

. r e m i.

qbay68aL'

1/ as‘

e’

w e'

xa Kar an /\aaaépev a Td. <fiv'

ÀÀa ò'

£ovs ijThis suggests pterygia sistunt or sanant as part of

the last words .

The corresponding sentence in Dioscorides (I. 108, Wellmann ) is interest ing . Ka i. o

'

xapn òs Bè r à a òrà 770 L6 î , cipp6€w v

ev wpaaadrrjp.acn KOLÀLGKO Î S Ka i. 5v aevr epw aîg , agbÀe'

ypa vra r e

rnpeî av v ;L6'

ÀLTL Kar aw Àaadeìg 9Àaa’para , anoavppar a , w eÀLc6y ar a ,

yÀa'

rrr r;g r e rpaxv r'

q'

r ag apnxa avv p.e'

Àm. Ka i. Àevxòv pouv

68

BOOK XXIV . LIV . 9 1—LVI. 94

the tanner ’

s of a reddish colour, a cubit high , and

of the thickness of a finger , the leave s of which whendried are used as is pomegranate rind in the tanningof le ather. Physicians moreover use the le ave s of

rhus for bruise s , likewise for coe liac trouble , sores inthe seat and for what they ca ll e ating (phagedaen ic)ulcers . Pounded with honey and applied with vine

gar a decoction of them is dropped into sup

purating ears . A decoction of the branche s make s amouth—wash , which is used for the same purpose s as

that made from mulberrie s , but it is more e fficacious

when mixed with alum. This is a lso applied to dropsical swe llings .

LV. What is called rhus erythros (red sumach) isthe seed of this shrub . It has astringent and coolingpropertie s . It is sprinkled on viands instead of saltwhen the bowe ls have been re laxed , and withsilphium added make s all me at swe e ter. W ith honeyit cure s running sore s , roughne ss of the tongue , andlivid or e xcoriated bruise s ; applied in the same w ayit very quickly cause s wounds on the head to cicat

riz e .

b Taken as food it che cks e xcessive menstru

ation .

LVI. A diff erent plant is erythrodanum ,called by

some ereuthodanum , and rubia by the Romans , whichis used to dye wool and to tan le ather. As a medicineit is diure tic , and taken in hydrome l cure s j aundice(lichen too if applied with vinegar) , sciatica and

paralysis if the patient bathe s daily while taking thedraught ! The root and the se ed are emmenagogue s ,check diarrhoea and disperse gatherings . The

The qualifying clause may be taken with para lyticos onlyor with it and ischiadicas . From et to LLLl is a parenthesis ,and 18 marked as such by Mayhofi.

Rhus erTOS .

Erythro

danum.


serpente s rami cum foliis inponuntur. folia e t

capillum inficiunt . inv enio apud quosdam morbum

regium sanari hoc frutice e tiam si alligatus spectetur

tantum .

LVII. Distat ab eo qui alysson vacatur folns

tantum e t ramis minoribus ; nomen accepit quod a

can e morsos rabiem sentire non patitur ex ace to potusadalligatusque ; mirum est quod additur , saniem

conspe cto omnino frutice eo siccari.

LVIII. Tinguentibus e t radicula lanas praeparatquam struthian a Graecis v ocari diximus . medetur

morbo regio e t ipsa pata 1e t decoctum e ius , item

pe ctoris v it iis ; urinam ciet , alvum solv it , vulvas

purgat , quamobrem aureum potorium medici vo

cant . e a et ex me lle prodest1 magnifice ad tussim ,

orthopnoe ae coclearis mensura , cum polenta vero e t

ace to lepras tallit . e adem cum panace et capparisradice calculas frangit pellitque , panos di scutit cumfarina horde acia e t v ino decocta . miscetur e t malagmatis et collyriis claritatis causa , sternutamento

1pota et decoctum eius , item pectoris v it iis urinam ciet ,

a lv um salv it , vulv as purgat , quamobrem aureum potoriummedi ci v acant . ea et ex me lla prodest ego et decoctum eius

potu ,item pectoris v itiis . urinam ciet , a lvum salv it . et

vulv as purgat , quam ob rem aureum w eaaòv medici v ocant exea . e molle prodest lll ayhafl decocta e ius poto,

item pectorisv itiis . urinam ciet , a lvum solv it et v ulv as purgat , quamobremaureum poterion medici v acant . ea et ex melle prodest

Detlefsen : ipsa aut ipsam sine et ante decoctum ; decocta ;

potu aut pato aut pata ; pecion aut pectori aut pet ition ; ex

ea et codd. Cf . XXXIII. 13 6 mille conv iv as tot idem aureis

potoriis .

Sanies is said by Celsus (V. 26, 20 ) to be thinner than blood,

v arying both in thi ckness and colour , whi le pus is the thickestand white st of the three , more sticky than either sanies or

blood. Pliny is thinking of the discharge from a dog- bite .

70

BOOK XXIV . LVI. 94—LVIII. 97

branche s with the le ave s are applied for snake - bite s .The leave s also dye the hair. I find in some authoritie s that j aundice is cured if this shrub is mere lylooked at while worn as an amule t .

LVII. The plant called alysson differs from the last Alysmonly in having smaller le ave s and branches . It has

rece ived its name because it prevents persons bittenby a dog from going mad if they take it in vinegarand wear it as an amule t . The authoritie s add thewonderful marve l that the mere sight of this shrubdrie s up san ie s .

“

LVIII. Radicula too prepare s wools for the dyers ; RadimlI have said ” that it is called struthian by the Greeks .

It cure s j aundice both when taken by itse lf in drinkand in the form of a de coction , and likewise chesttrouble s ; it promote s urine , loosens the bowe ls and

purge s the uterus , for which reason physicians call itgolden goble t " .

C With honey too it is a splendidremedy for a cough , and in dose s of a spoonful fororthopnoea ; but with pearl barley and vinegarit remove s leprous sore s . Again , with panaces

and caper root it breaks up and e xpe ls stone in the

bladder , and a de coction with barley meal and winedisperse s supe rficial absce sses . It is used as an in

gredient of poultice s , and of eye- salve s to improve

See XIX. 548 .

The text has suffered in this sentence through probablythe sleepiness of a scribe . I hav e tried to restore the sense

and the grammar while retaining as many words of the

MSS . as possible . I suggest paiarium because of XXXIII.

513 6 ; otherwise pateman (Sillig and Det lefsen ) or paculum (thevulgate reading) would suit the passage . The objection to

Mayhoff’

s ingenious w eaaòv is that it would apply only to vulvasparyat.

See Index of Plants.


utilis in ter pauca , lieni quoque ac iocineri . eadem

pata denarii unius pondere ex aqua muls a suspiriosos

sanat . sic e t pleuriticos et omne s lateris dolores .

Apocyni semen ex aqua— frutex est folio hederae ,

molliore tamen , e t m inus longis v iticulis , semineacuto , diviso , lanuginoso , gravi odore— cane s e t

omne s quadripedes necat in cibo datum .

LIX. Dictum 1rosmarinum est . duo genera e ius

alterum sterile , alterum cui e t caulis et semen

resinaceum , quod cachrys vacatur. foliis odor turis .

radi x vulnera sanat viridis inposita et sedis procidentia , condylomata , haemorrhoidas , sucus et fruticis

et radi cis morbum regium e t e a quae repurganda

sunt . oculorum aciem exacuit . semen ad ve terapectoris vitia datur potui e t ad vulvas cum v ino et

pipere , menses adiuv at , podagris inlinitur cum aerinafarina , purgat e tiam len tigin e s e t quae excalfacienda

sint , aut cum sudor quaerendus , inlitum , item con

vulsis . auget et lacte in vino potum , item radix .

ipsa herba strumis cum ace to inlinitur , ad tussim

cum me lle prodest .

LX. Cachrys mu lta genera habe t, ut diximus.

sed hae c quae ex rare supra dieta nascitur , si fricetur , re sinosa e st . adv ersatur v enenis et v en enatis

prae t erquam anguibus . sudores mov et , torm inadiscutit , lactis ubertat em facit .

1 di ctum add . Urlichs past rosmarinum trans . Mayhaff .

See XIX. 187 .

See Celsus VI. 18 , 8 .

See XVI . 3 0 , where the cachrys is said to be the pilula of

the oak , fir , larch , pit ch pine , linden , nut (chestnut and plane .

Pliny also us es the word for the capsul e of rosemary . Theo

phrastus IX. xi . 10 calls Ka’xpv (neuter ) the fruit of the Zibanotis .

72

BOOK XXIV . LVIII. 97—Lx. 1 0 1

the vision ; it is e spe cially use ful for making the

patient sne e ze , and also for trouble s of the sple enand liver. The same plant taken in hydrome l indose s of one denarius by we ight cure s asthma and

pleurisy and all pa ins in the side .

Dog ’s—bane i s a shrub having a le af like that of ivy Dog’

s- b

but softer ; the tendrils are shorter , and the seed is

painted , grooved , downy , and strong sme lling . If

given in the ir food this seed in water kills dogs and

all other quadrupeds.LIX. Rosemary has be en mentioned alre ady .

“ Raserna

There are tw o kinds of it ; one is barren , and the othe rhas a stalk and a re sinous se ed ca lled cachrys . The

le ave s have the sme ll of frankincense . A localapplication of the fre sh root he als wounds , prolapsusof the anus , condylomata ,

“and haemorrhoids . The

juice both of the shrub and of the root cure s j aundice and such conditions as call for C le ansing . It

sharpens the eye sight . The se ed is given in drink forchronic complaints of the che st and with wine and

pepper for uterine trouble ; it is an emmenagogue ,

and with darne l me a l is applied locally for gout ; an

application also clears away fre ckle s , and is used whena calorific or sudorific is called for , also for spra ins ;milk is incre ased when it , and when the root , is takenin wine . The herb itse lf is applied with vinegarto scrofulous sore s , and with honey is good for a

cough .

LX. There are , as I have said , many kinds of Cachryscachrys .

c But the one growing on rosemary , the

plant just de scribed , is re sinous if rubbed . It

neutralize s poisons , and the venom of all cre ature se xcept snakes . It promote s perspiration , dispe lscolic , and produce s a rich supply of milk .


LXI. Herba Sabina brathy appe llata a Graecis

duorum generum e st , altera tamarici folio similis ,altera cupressi. quare qu idam Cre ticam cupressum

dixerunt . a mu ltis in sufiitus pro ture adsumitur , in

medicamentis vero duplicato pondere eosdem e ff ec

tus habere quos cinnamum traditur . collectiones

minuit e t nomas conpescit , inlita ulcera purgat ,partus emortuos adposita extrahit et suffita . inlinitur igni sacro et carbunculis cum me lle 1 ; ex

vino pota regio morbo medetur . gallinacii generispituitas fumo e ius herbae sanari tradunt .

LXII. Similis herbae hu ic Sabinae est se lagoappe llata . legitur sine ferro dextra manu per

tunicam qua2 sinistra exuitur 3 ve lut a furante ,

candida ve ste ves tito pureque laut is nudis pedibus ,sacro facto prius quam legatur pane v inoque . ferturin mappa nova . hanc contra perniciem omnemhabendam prodidere Druidae Gallorum e t contraomnia oculorum vitia fumum e ius prodesse .

LXIII. Idem samolum herbam nominav ere nas

centem in umidis , et hanc sinistra manu legi a ieiunis

1 ILa dist. Va l. Rose etM ayhajf ex codd. carbunculis , cumme lle et v ino Detlefsen .

2qua plerique codd. , Detlef sen : aperta M ayhajff fortasse

quieta .

3exui tur codd. , Detlefsen eruitur vulg. , M ayhafl

'

exeritur

0 . F . W. M fi ller, fortasse recte.

I do not thin k that there is any need to depart from the

MSS , except , perhaps , to alter exuitur to exerltur with 0 . F . W .

Muller. The reason for the proposed changes is to makesinistra ablativ e , some old edi tions and the MS . X actuallyadding manu. It is true that the le ft hand is usua lly the one

used in thi s kind of magic (XXI. 176, XXVII. 3 6, but

74


contra morbos suum boumque , nec respicere legent em,

neque alibi quam in cana li deponere , ibi conterere poturis .

LXIV . Cummium genera diximus . in his maiore se lf ectus me lioris cuiusque crunt . dentibus inutile ssunt , sanguinem coagulant et idea re icientibus

Sanguinem prosunt , item ambustis , arteriae v itiis

inutile s , urinam cient , amaritudines hebe tant .

1

adstrict is ceteris , quae ex amygdala amara est

spissandi sque v isce ribus e fficacior , habet excalfac

torias v ire s . postponuntur2prunorum autem e t

cerasorum ac vitium . siccant inlitae e t adstringunt ,

ex ace to vero infant ium lichene s sanant , prosunt et

tussi v e teri quattuor obolis in musto 3 potis . creduntur

e t colorem grat iorem facere ciborumque adpe t en

1 S ic dist. M ayhojf . hebetant , adstrictis cete ris . quae ex

amygdala amara est , spissandique (sw multL codd . ) v iribus

efiî cacior vulg. z adstrictis ceteris visceribus , quae ex

amygda la amara e st , spissandique efiî cacior Detlef sen (Urlichssecutus ) : hebetant . adstrictoriis ceteris, quae ex amygdalaamara est spissandisque v isceribas efiî cacior M aghaj

”

.

2postponuntur Detlef sen call. XIII. 5 66 : de terior ex

amygdalis amaris et ceraso, pessima e prunis proponuntur

codd. , Mayhaff .musto S illig, l anas, vet. Da l. mix to codd . , M ayhafl

'

.

Book XIII. 55 66 fi .

If w ith May hofi w e put a full stop at hebetant and a

comma at ceteris w e can make sense of this passage withoutemendation . As is painted out in Forcellini , adstrictus some

times means asta gens , acerbas , a rpvgbvés .

”Cf . XXVII

12 1, gus ta adstricta. If the full stop is put at ceteris , some

word meaning propert ies e .g . v iribus , must be understoodwith it gum s deaden bitterness, and their propert ies

generally are astringent .

”The other pun ctuation seems

better. Possibly there is a lacuna after amara . DioscoridesI 123 , 1 6 KO

'

1L,LLL aòr ijs (sc . 7mcp1î g) oru'

gba xd ì

76

BOOK XXIV . LXIII. 1 0 4—

.LX1V . 1 0 6

by fast-ing persons to ke ep off the disease s of swineand oxen . As one gathers it one must not lookat it , nor place the plant anywhere except in the

trough ,where it sh ou ld be crushed for the animals

to drink .

LXIV . I have mentioned the di fferent kinds of Gums.

gums . The be tter the sort of e ach kind the more

patent its e ffect . Gums are injurious to the te e th ,

coagulate blood and there fore benefit those w ho spitblood ; they are a lso good for burns though bad forafiections of the trachea ; they promote urine and

Iessen the bitter taste in things . Gums general ly are

acrid ,“ but the gum that come s from bitter almonds ,and i s more efiicacious for giving astringency to

the internal organs , posse sse s he ating propertie s .

The gums from plums , cherrie s and vine s are le sse ste emed . An application of gum has drying and

astringent propertie s , in vinegar moreover it cure slichens on babie s , and four abolì taken in must are

good for a chronic cough . Gums are be lieved to

improve the complexion and also the appe tite ; they

Bepp.a lva , shows that the bitter almond is referred to, but

the run of the sentence makes us expect a nominativ e adjectiv eto be joined to efi cacLar. Perhaps— it is only a guess

— the

sentence should run : adstrLct ceterLs , quae ex amygda la amara

<exc itar amara) est spLssandq ue vLscerLbus efiîcacLar ; habetexcalf actarLas e es . The logic of the passage would be thatother gums Iessen bitter tastes , but gum from bitter almonds

is itself bitter .

It is diffi cult to make sense h ere of Ln mixto, in a mixture . Moreov er, Ln is not the usua l proposition in such

phrases , but ex or cum. This obj ection , of course , applies tomusto asmuch as tomt o. M a sta, howev er, is probably right ,althoughm t arum, four abolì of mixed gums would suitthe sense of the passage and av oid the diff iculty of Ln . But

were m t arù the origina l reading, it is hard to understand

w hy it w as altered to in mt o.


tiam , e t calculosis prodesse cum passo potae . ocu

lorum e t v ulnerum utilitatibus maxime conv eniunt .

LXV . Spina Arabica— spinae A egyp t iae1 laudes in

odorum loco diximus— et ipsa stringit spissatque

destillationes omne s e t sanguinis excreationes men

sumque abundantiam , e tiamnum radice v alentior .

LXVI. Spinae albae semen contra scorpione sauxiliatur . corona ex ea inposita capitis dolore sminuit . est hu ic similis quam Graeci acanthionvacant , minoribus multo foliis , acule atis per extremi

tate s e t araneosa lanugine obductis , qua collectae tiam ve ste s quaedam bombycinis simile s fiunt inoriente . ipsa folia v e l radice s ad remedia opisthotoni bibuntur .

LXVIl . Et acacia e 2 spina fit in Aegypto alba nigra

que arbore , item viridi , 3 sed longe meliore 4 prioribus .

fit e t in Galatia de terrima spinosiore arbore . semen

1 Spina Arabica— spinae Aegyptiae Ill ayhaff spinaeArabicae Urlichs , Detlef sen : spina - ae ) aegyptia (—ae ) spinaearabicae codd.

2acacia e Hard, , Ma-

yhaff acaciae pleq ue codd . , Detlefsen.

v iridi EX vulg. , M ayhajf v iridis req uLcodd. , Detlefsen.

meliore Urlichs , M ayhafi melior è anuat codd . , SLlnmelior Detlef sen .

Book XIII. 63 , where , howev er, Plinymakes nomentionof the Arabian thorn . The text in 5 107 is obv ious ly corrupt

in the MSS . Mayhoif (Appendix p. 484 ) calls it a lacus desperota s . Either Pliny spoke of both thorns or he mentioned

only the Arabian , forgett ing what he had said in XIII. 63 .

A scribe w as likely enough , if Pliny made this mistake , to add

a ment ion of the Egyptian thorn ; but if Pliny had spoken onlyof the Egyptian a scriba would not be likely to add the Arabian .

So w e can either try to harmoni z e what is said of the tw o thorns ,with Mayhofi , or amit all reference to the Egypt ian thorn ,

withUrlichs and Detlefsen . That Pliny is thinking of the sa a

A rac a is show n by Dioscorides III. 13 : a r v'

<fiovaa , «a l 17p6$

78

BOOK XXIV . LXIV. 1 0 6—LXV11 . 1 0 9

are good for stone when taken with raisin wine . Theyare especially use ful for the eye s and for wounds .LXV. The Arabian thorn— I have mentioned “ the

merits of the Egyptian thorn in my section on scents— even by itse lf by its thickening nature che cks all

fiuxes , spitting of blood and exce ssive menstruation ,

and there is even more potency in its root .

LXVI. The se ed of the white thorn is a he lpagainst the stings of scorpions , and a crown of itwhen worn lessens he adache . Like it is the plantcalled acanthion by the Gre eks , but this has muchsmaller leave s , which have prickly points and are

covered w ith down like cobweb . In the East this iseven gathered to make a silk—l ike cloth .

“ The

leaves by themse lve s ,c or the roots , are taken in

drink as a cure for opisthotonic tetanus .LXVII A gum also is produced in Egyp t from the

acacia - thorn , from a pale tree and a dark , and likewise from a gre en tre e , w hich is far better than theformer tw o .

“ Gum is also produced in Galatia ; it isvery inferior, and come s from a more thorny tre e than

60 61! yv vau<eîav Ka i. «pds dvayw yr)v a lp.ar og «a l. arpa‘

s à'

ÀÀav 9 peu

parw p.oòs r) Lilla n apanÀna lw s 6 13967 6? (of the circa v9a’

Apafluaj).For sa a see Index of Plants.

Not real silk , but obtained from the caterpillar of LasLo

campa atus , from which vestes Caae were made .

Ipsa seems here , as often in Pliny, to mean that no other

ingredient is added to the remedy. It is uncertain , howev er,whether the leav es are to be swallowed , perhaps beaten up, in

water or wine , or whether an infusion is to be made of leav es

or root . The latter w ay of preparing the medicine would bemore natural , but the usual v erb for it is decaquere.

The text seems to be corrupt here beyond reconstruction .

I print Mayhoff’

s text . Detle fsen’

s would giv e An acaciathorn grows in Egypt , both with a pale and with a dark tree

and also a green one , which is far superior to the others .

AcacLa can mean either the tree or the gum from it .

Arabian

thorn.

White tl

Acacias .


omnium lenticulae simile , minore tantum e t granoe t folliculo . colligitur autumno, ante collectum

nimio v alidius spissat . sucus ex folliculis aqua cae lesti

pe rfusis , mcx in pila tusis e xprimitur organis , tune

densatur in sole mort arus in pastillos . fit et 1

foliis minus e fficax . ad coria perficienda semine progalla utuntur. foliorum sucus e t Galaticae acaciae

nige rrimus inprobatur , item qui valde rufus . pur

pure a aut leucophae a e t quae facillime diluitur— vis 2

summa ad spissandum re frigerandumque est

oculorum medicamentis ante a lia utile s 3 . lav antur in

eos usus pastilli , ab alns torrentur , ab aliis peruruntur. capillum t ingunt , senant ignem sacrum ,

ulce ra quae serpunt e t umida vitia corpori s , col

le ct iones , articulos contusos , pernione s , pterygia .

abundantiam mensum in femini s sistunt vulv amque et

sedem procidentes , item oculos , oris ulcera e t

genitalium .

LXVIII. Vulgaris quoque haec spina ex qua

aenae fulloniae inplentur radicis 4 usus habe t . per

Hispanias quidem multi e t inter odores e t ad un

guenta utuntur illa as palathum vacante s . est sine

1et codd . et edd . ; an ex ? Past mortariis add . e t digeritur

Warmington .

2v is cum aq uot codd . Ill ayhafi , quL dLst. LLL Ln textu.

Fartasse : v i refrigerandum sun t , ut Lp3 e M ayhaff canL.3utiles codd . , M ayhaff ut ilis S iln , Detlefsen .

radicis] an radi culae legendum ? S ed vide XII. 110

radix (sc. aspalathi) unguent is expet itur .

Perhaps martariLs should be de leted as a gloss on e itherpila or argaa .

80

BOOK XXIV . v u. I CQ—LXVIII. 1 1 1

the o thers . The se ed of all the tre e s is like thelenti] , only both grain and pod are smaller . It isgathered in autumn if gathered earlie r , its ton ic pro

perties are too powerful . The pods are ste eped inrain - water and then pounded in a mortar . The

juice is then extracted from them by pre sses , and

finally thickened into lozenge s by exposure to the

sun in basins .

“ A ju1ce 1s also extracted from the

leave s , but it is le ss e fficacious . For tann ing leatherthey use the se ed instead of gall - nuts . The juiceof the le ave s and of the Galatian acacia is ve ry dark ,and considered of little value , as is also

'

the juice of

the deep—red kind . The purple gum , the dun

coloured ,and that which dissolve s most e asily

the se have the highe st ton ic and cooling qualitie s — are particu larly use ful for eye

- sa lve s . For

the se purposes the lozenge s are washed by some ,

roasted by others and by others thoroughly burnt .They dye the ha ir , and cure erysipe las , cre epingulcers , moist complaints of the body ,“ gatherings , bruised joints, chilblains and hangnails .

“l Theycheck exce ssive menstruation in women and are

good for prolapsus of the uterus and anus , also forthe eye s and for sore s of the mouth and of the

gen itals .

LXVIII. O ur common th0'

rn a lso , from which the

fulle rs ’ coppers are filled , has a root with use s .

Throughout the Spains , many use it as a scent and as

an ingredient of ointments , calling it aspalathus .

Mayhofi’

s conjecture , sunt for est, w ith aLof the MSS .

re tained, is perhaps simpler. The sense , howev er, is not

altered .

Perhaps excessiv e or off ensiv e perspiration .

The eye- complaint may be referred to here .

Other t


dubio hoc nomine spina silv estris in oriente , ut

diximus , candida , magnitudine et arboris iustae ,

(LXIX) sed e t frutex humilior, aeque spinosus , inNisyro

1et Rhodiorum insulis , quem a lii erysisceptrum ,

alii sphagnon ,2 Syri diaxylon vacant . optimus qui

minime ferulaceus , rubens aut in purpuram vergensdetracto cortice . nascitur pluribus locis , sed non

ubique odoratus . quam vim habere t caelesti arcu

in eum innixo diximus . sanat tae tra oris u lcera et

ozaenas , gen itali a exulcerata aut carbunculantia ,

item rhagadia , infiationes potu di scutit e t strangurias .

corte x sanguinem reddentibus mede tur. de coctume ius alvum sistit . similia praestare silv estrem quoque

putant .

LXX. Spina est appendix appel lata , quoniambacac puniceo colore in e a appendices vocantur.

hac crudae per se e t aridae in vino decoctae alvum

citam ac tormina conpescunt . pyracanthae bacaccontra serpentium ictus bibuntur.

LXXI. Pa liurus quoque spinae genus est . semen

e ius Afri z uram v ocant , contra scorpione s e fficacissimum , item calculosis et tussi . folia adstrictoriam v im

1 HLc call . DLasc. Syria add. Wara gtan.

sphagnon] phasganon PLntLanus , M ayhoff .

See Book XII. 110. Dioscorides (I. 20,Wellmann ) hasaana

'

Àa90 3 , OL Sè epva lam;rrrpov , aL Sè ac$dyvov , Z a'

pav. Bè 8ta'

f vÀovxaÀavm . Bap.vag e

’

an . yevv evag e v v'

pw K0.L 2 vpla KaL

rfi P0 8L'

a, Lp xpw vrau OL pq lrm e l; rds rw v pv v ar v'

glxa s.

There is a we ll attested reading q$aîaya vov (sw ord) : hence

Mayhofi’

s phasganon . Dioscorides speaks also of xzîrrep0 9°

oi Sè

dandÀa90 v K0.À0 60 LV (I.

See XII. 110 Ln eadem tractu aspala thus nasw ar, sa a


habent . radix discutit panos , collectiones , vomicas ,urinas trahit pata . de coctum e ius in vino alvum

sistit , serpentibus adv ersatur . radix praecipue

datur in vino .

LXXII. Aqui foliae folia 1 contusa addita salearticulorum morbis prosunt , bacae purgat ioni femin

arum, coe liacis , dysint ericis , cholericis . in vinopotae sistunt alvum . radi x decocta et inlita extrahit

infixa corpori, utili ssima e t luxatis tumoribusque .

aquifolia arbor in domo aut vi lla sata v eneficia arcet .

fiore e ius aquam glaciari Pythagoras tradi t , itembaculum ex e a factum in quodvis anima l emissum,

e tiamsi citra ceciderit de fectu mittentis , ipsum per

se se cupito2propius adlabi , tam praecipuam naturam

inesse arbori . taxi arboris fumus mecat mure s .

LXXIII. Nec rubas ad maleficia tantum genuit

natura , ideoque e t mora his , hoc e st v el hominibus

cibos , dedit . v im habent siccandi , ads tringendi ,

gingiv is , tonsillis , genitalibus accommodatissimi .

adv ersantur serpentium sceleratissimis , haemorrhoidi

e t presteri , fios aut mora scorpionibus , vulnera sinecol lectionum periculo iungunt , urinas eorum caulescient . teneri 3 tunduntur exprimiturque sucus , max

sole cogitur in crassitudinem me llis , singulari remedia1aquifoliae folia M ayhafi : aquifolia Detlefsen : aliqui folia

aut foll a aliqui codd .

2cupitoDetlefsen cubitoM ayhaff : cubito, cubitu,

recubitu

codd .

3eorum caules cient . teneri Detlefsen : cient . caul es eorum

teneri Mayhafl"

varia codd .

The vulgate recubitu is explained by Forcellini as subsultusille quem faciunt corpora Ln solum durum a identLa . Some

hav e ev en thought that there is an allus ion to the boomerang.

This does not suit adla bi, and in the context prapLus mus t benearer the mark, not nearer the thrower . Recubitu arose fromw rong div is ion of sese subitu. As a cubit is not far for a missile84

BOOK XXIV . LXXI. 1 1 5—Lxx111 . 1 18

pe rse s superficial absce sses , gatherings and boils ;taken in drink it is diuretic . A decoction of it in winechecks loosene ss of the bowe ls and neutralize s thepoison of serpents . The root e spe cial ly is given in

w 1ne .

LXXII. The le ave s of the holly , crushed and

w ith the addition of salt , are good for dise ase s of thejoints , while the berries are good for menstruation ,

coe liac trouble , dysentery and cholera . Taken in winethey check loosene ss of the bowe ls . An applicationof the decocted root e xtracts obj e cts embedded in thefle sh , and is very use ful for dislocations and swe llings .A holly tre e planted in a town house or country houseke eps off magic influence s . Pythagoras has recordedthat by its blossom water is solidified , and that a

holly stick , cast at any animal , e ven if through wantof strength in the thrower it falls short of the quarry ,of its ow n accord rolls nearer the mark ,“ so powerfulis the nature of this tree . The smoke of the yew

tree kills rats and mice .

LXXIII. Not even bramble s did Nature createfor harmful purpose s only , and so she has given themthe ir blackberrie s , that are food even for men . Theyhav e a drying and astringent prope rty , be ing verygood for gums , tonsils and genitals . They counteract the venom of the most Vicious serpents , such as

the haemorrhois and pre ster the bloom or the berrycounteracts that of scorpions . They close woundswithout any danger of gatherings . The ir sta lks arediure tic , be ing pounded when young and the juicee xtracted , which is then condensed in the sun to the

to ricochet I hav e pre ferred (doubtfully) Detlefsen’

s cut a to

Mayhofi’

s cubLta. Warmington would read subitu : the hollystick, lying down as it were , mov es towards the mark.

Holly.

Bramble


contra mala oris oculorumque , sanguinem exscrean

t es,anginas , vulvas , sedes , coeliacos inte llegitur potus

aut inlitus. oris quidem v itiis e tiam folia comman

ducata prosunt , et ulceribus manantibus aut quibuscumque in capite inlinuntur . cardiacis v el sic perse inponuntur a mamma sini stra , item stomacho in

doloribus oculisque procidentibus . instillatur sucus

eorum e t auribus . sanat condylomata cum rosaceocerato . cauliculorum ex vino decoctum uvae praesentaneum remedium e st . idem per se in cibo sumpticymae modo aut decocti in vino austero labant es

dente s firmant . alvum sistunt e t profluv ia sanguinis ,dysint ericis prosunt , siccantur in umbra , ut ciniscrematorum uv am reprimat . folia quoque are facta

et contusa iumentorum ulceribus util ia traduntur.

mora quae in his nascuntur v el e fficaciorem stomaticen

praebuerint quam sativa morus . e adem compositione

v e l cum hypocisthide tantum et me lle bibuntur incholera e t a cardiacis e t contra araneas . intermedi camenta quae styptica vacant n ihil efiicacius

rubi mora ferentis radice de cocta in vino ad tertiasparte s , ut coluantur eo oris ulcera et sedi s fov e antur

que1 tanta v is est ut spongeae ipsae lapidescant .

1 fov eanturque tres codd . , Detlefsen : fav eantur, quae dua

codd . , M ayhaff.

Perhaps on .

3 For cardLacus morbus see Celsus III. 19 with Spencer’

s

note . The Romans seem to hav e confused certain forms of

indigestion and heart trouble . Perhaps the latter is alludedto here .

See Celsus VI. 6, 8 for npc'

1rrw ms of the eyes.

86


LXXIV . A lterum genus rubi in qua rasa nascitur

gignit pululam castaneae similem , calculosis praeci

puo remedia . alia e st cynorrh oda quam proximo dicemus volumine . cynosbaton ali i cynapanxin , al ii neuraspaston vacant . folium habe t v estigia hominis simile .

fert e t uv am nigram , in cuius acina nervum habe tunde neuraspastos dicitur tota , alia quam cappar1

quad medici cynosbaton appellarunt . huius thyrsusad remedi a splenis e t inflatianes canditus ex acetomanditur. ne rvus e ius cum mastiche Chia cam

manducatus as purgat . rubarum rasa alope ciascum axungia emendat , mora capillum t ingunt cum

omphacino alec . Has mori me sse colligitur. candidus

pleure ticis praecipuus ex vino potus , item coeliacis .

radix ad tertias de cocta alvum sistit et sanguinem .

item dente s collutos decocta . eadem suca fov entursedis atque genitalium ulcera . cinis e radice re

primit uv am .

LXXV . Idaeus rubus appe llatus est , quoniam in

Ida non alius nascitur. est autem t enerior ac minor ,rarioribus calamis innocentiaribusque , sub arborum

umbra nascens . huius Has cum me lle epiphoris

inlinitur e t ignibus sacris , stomachicisque ex aquabibendus datur, ce tera e adem praestat quae supradicta .

Book XXV. 5 17 . The round growth is the spiny gal!caused by the gall - fiy Rhas as rasaram, not the gal] of

XXV . 18 .

The ident ification of this neuraspastos is difficult , becausePliny ha s possibly con fused here diff erent shrubs . See Index

of Plants , and Dioscorides I 94 and 11 173 .

It is v ery doubt ful what thyrsus means here . In XXI.

87 it is dist inguished from caulLs. If the black currant be

the plant referred to in the present passage , the thyrsus maybe the cluster of stalks on which the currants form.

Or, with diseases of the oesophagus .

”

88

BOOK XXIV . LXXIV. I Z I—LXXV. 1 2 3

LXXIV . A second kind of bramble , on which a

rose grows , produce s a little round growth like a

che stnut , an exce llent remedy for the stone . It is

different from the dog—rose , about which I shall

speak in the next book .

The cynasbatos is ca lled by some cynapanxis ,by others neuraspastos . It has a leaf like a man

’sfoot—print . It al so be ars a black cluster , in the berryof which it has a string , whence the whole shrub iscalled neuraspastos .

“ It is diff e rent from the caperthat the physicians have called cynosbatos . The stalkof this , pickled in vinegar , is chewed as a remedy foraffe ctions of the sple en and for flatulence . The

string of it chewed up w ith Chian mast io cleanse s themouth . The rose—blossom of bramble s with axlegre ase cle ars away mange ; the berries mixed withoil of un1 ipe g1 ape s dye the hair. The blossom of the

blackberry is gathered at harve st—time . The whiteblossom taken in wine is exce llent for pleurisy and

also far coe liac affections . The root , boiled down toone - third , checks loosene ss of the bowe ls and haemor

rhage ; the decoction also make s a wash that strengthens the te e th . With the same ju ice are fomentedsore s of the arms and of the genitals . The ash from

the root replace s a re laxed uvula .

LXXV . The Idaean bramble w as so ca lled be causeno other grows on Mount Ida . It is , however, more

de licate than other brambles and smal ler, with the

cane s farther apart and le ss prickly ; it grows underthe shade of tre e s . The blossom of it with honeyis applied to fiuxes of the eye s and to erysipe las , andin water it is given as a drink to patients with disordered stomachs its other propertie s are the same

as those mentioned abov e .


LXXVI. Inter genera rubarum rhamnos appe llatur

a Graecis candidior , fruticasior e t 1 ramos spargens

rectis aculeis , non ut ce t eri aduncis , foliis maioribus .

alterum genus e ius silve stre , nigrius et quadamt enusrubens , fert v e luti folliculos . huius radice decocta inaqua fit medicamentum quad vacatur lycium .

semen secundas trahit . ille autem candidior ad

stringit magis , refrigerat , collectionibus e t vulneribus adcommadatior. fo l ia utriusque et cruda e t

decocta inlinuntur cum alec .

LXXVII. Lycium prae stant ius spina fieri traduntquam et pyxacanthon chironian vacant, qualem in

Indicis arboribus diximus, quoniam longe praestantissimum exist imatur Indicum. coquuntur in aquatusi rami radice sque summae amaritudinis aereo vase

per triduum , it e rumque exempta ligno, dance me lli scrassitudo fiat . adulteratur amaris sucis , etiamamurca et fe lle bubulo. spuma e ius ac flos quidamoculorum medicament is additur . reliqua suca

faciem purgat e t psoras sanat , e rosos angulos oculorum v e tere sque fluctiones , aure s purulentas , tonsillas ,gingivas , tussim, sanguinis excre at iones fabae magnitudine dev oratum aut , si ex v ulne ribus fluat , inlitum ,

rhagadia , genitalium ulce ra , adtritus , u lcera recentia

e t serpentia ac putrescentia , in naribus clavos ,suppurationes . bibitur et mulieribus in lacte contra

1 fru t icasior et plures codd . , M ayhoff frutex is floret Xet fruticasior , is ficret Detlef sen , vulg.

From Chiron , the centaur w ho w as credited with greatmedical knowledge .

See XII. 3 1.

90


profluv ia . Indici diff erentia glaebis extrinsecus

nigris , intus rufis , cum fregeris , cito nigrescentibus .

adstringit vehementer cum amaritudine , ad eademomnia utile , sed praecipue ad genitalia .

LXXVIII. Sunt qui e t sarcocollam spinae lacri

mam putant , pa llini turis similem, cum quadam

acrimonia dulcem, cumminosam .

1sist it fluctiones ,

inlinitur infantibus maxime . v etustat e et haecnigre scit , me lior quo candidior.

LXXIX . Unum e t iamnum arborum medicinis

debe tur nobile medicamentum quod oporicen vacant .

fit ad dysint ericos stomachique vitia in cangia mustialbi lento vapore decoctis ma lis cotone is quinque cum

suis seminibus , punicis totidem , sorborum sextario ,

e t pari mensura e ius quod rhun Syriacam vacant ,croci semuncia . coquitur usque ad crassitudinem

me llis .

LXXX . His subt exemus e a quae Graeci“

com

municatione nominum in ambiguo fe cero anne ar

borum essent .

Chamaedrys herba est quae Latine trixago dicitur .

aliqui e am chamaeropem , ali i Teucriam appe llav ere .

falia habet magnitudine mentae , calore et div isura

1cmnm inosam Detlef sen, M ayhajf gummosam. cum v ino

tus a vulg.

Sarcocolla is a Greek word (aapxoxo'

Ma ) meaning the

fastener of (cut ) flesh .

”

Dioscorides (III. 85 , Wellmann )giv es an account simi lar to Pliny

’

s , but adds that it came fromPersia : eon 8a

'

xpvov 3 év8pov yevv .évov e v 7 fi € OLKÒS‘

ÀLBa vw r gî) Àevrrw W OKLpPOV, T T] yevou . 3 v'

vanw Bè

exa KOÀÀ7)TLKLW rpa vpar w v KaL r w v ev o<j>90ì lp.oîgpevua

'

r w v .

The Greek 677p K1j, fruit conserv e .

92

BOOK XXIV . LXXVII. 1 2 6—LXXX. 1 3 0

struation . The Indian varie ty is distinguished by thelumps be ing black outside and red inside , qu ickly turn1ng black when they have be en broken . This kind isvery astringent , andbitter. It is use ful for all the same

purposes as are the other kinds , but e spe cially fortreating the genitals .

LXXVIII. Some think that sarcocolla is the

te ar- like drop of a thorn . It is like powderedfrankincense , sweet w ith a touch of harshne ss , and

gummy . It checks fluxe s , and is used e specially as

an ointment for babie s . It too grows black with age ,

and the whiter it is the better its quality .

LXXIX . There i s still one famous remedy , calledoporice ,“ to be included among the medicine s thatare obtained from tre e s . Used for dysentery and

stomach trouble s , it is made in the following w ay. In

a congius of white grape - juice are boiled dawn overa slow heat fiv e quince s , se eds and all , fiv e pome

granate s , one sextarius of sorb - apple s , an e qualquantity of what is ca lled Syrian sumach , and half anounce of saff ron . The boiling continue s until theconsistency is that of honey .

LXXX . To the se remedie s I will add those which ,because the Gre eks have given the same name to

different obj ects , w e might be led to suppose came

from tre es .

“

The chamaedrys ground oak is a plant whoseLatin name is trixago . Same have called it cha

maerops , and others the Troj an plant . It has leave sof the same size as mint leave s , coloured and indentedas are those of the oak . Some have called it saw

A cangLus w as a liquid measure containing six sextarn , or

nearly six English pints.

The plants that follow are all ground trees .

Sarcacr

Oporto:

Gramtrees.


quercus . alu serratam et ab e a serram inventam e ssedixerunt , fiore paeme purpureo . carpitur praegnans

suca in pe trosis , adversus serpentium venema potuinlituque e fficacissima , item stomacho , tussi v etustae ,

pitui tae in gula cahaerescenti, ruptis , convulsis ,lateri s doloribus . lienem consumit , urinam et

mense s cie t , ob id incipientibus hydr opicis efiicax ,

manualibus scopis e ius in tribus heminis aquaedecoctis usque ad tertias . faciunt e t pas tillos t erentes eam ex aqua ad supra dicta . sanat et vomicas et ve tera ulcera v e l sordida cum me lle . fit et

vinum ex ea pe ctoris v itiis . foliorum suons cum alec

caliginem oculorum discutit , ad splenem ex acetosumitur, excalfacit e t perunctione .

LXXXI. Chamaedaphne uni co ramulo est , cubitaliferma ; folia t enuiora lauro ; semen rubens adnexumfoliis . inlinitur capiti s doloribus recens , ardore sre frigerat , ad tormina cum vino bibitur. mense ssucus e ius e t urinam ciet potu partusque difficiles inlana adpositus .

LXXXII. Chame laea simi litudinem foliorum oleae

habet— sunt autem amara , adorata 1 —in petrosis

palmum altitudine non excedente . alvum purgat ,

de trahit pituitam , bilem,foliis in duabus absinthii

partibus decoctis , suca eo cum me lle pato. foliis

1 S ic dLst. Mayhafi .

Or It also heals abscesses and chronic sores, and ev en

foul ones if honey is added .

”

Perhaps inflammation . See nate an XXVI 3 2 .

The method of preparing the medicine may apply only ifit be taken for the cure of bile . The Latin would allow of this

interpretat ion , but it seems more natural, and equally goodLatin , for the method to apply to all the three purposes

mentioned.

94


impositis et ulcera purgantur. aiunt , si quis ante solisortum eam capiat dicatque ad albugines oculorum

se capere , adalligata discuti id vitium , quaqua modovero collectam iumentorum pecorumque oculis

salutarem e sse .

LXXXIII. Chamae syce lentis fa lia habet nihil seadtollentia , in aridis , petrosis , claritati oculorum e t

contra subfusiones utilissima1e t cicatrice s , caligine s ,

nubeculas inuncta .

1 vulvae dolore s sedat adposita inlinteolo. tallit e t verrucas omn ium generum inlita .

prodest e t orthopnoicis .

LXXXIV. Chamaecissos spicata est tritici modo ,ramulis quinis fe re , foliosa 2 — cum fiare t, existimari

pote st alba viola— radice tenui . bibunt ischiadicifolia tribus abolis in vini cyathis duabus septem

3

diebus , admodum amara pot ione .

LXXXV . Chamae leucen apud nos farfarum sivefarfugium vacant . nascitur se cundum fiuv ios , foliopopuli , sed ampliare . radix e ius inponitur carbonibuscupressi, atque is nidor per infundibulum bibitur

inv eteratae tussi .1utilissima et cicatrices , caligines, <muriculas,> nubeculas

inumata vulg. in v ino cacta ante inuncta ads a : util issimum

[cum lacunaenna]— inun ctus Ianus, Detlefsen : utilis suca ad

cicatrices , caligines , nubecul as inun cto M ayhaff utilissimume t inun cto aut inun cta aut iniun ctus codd .

3 SLC dLst. M ayhoff .3septem Detlefsen , codd. : septenis Mayhoff .

The text of this sentence is mast un certain , PerhapsPliny wrote hurriedly or carelessly ; Ln arLdLs , petrosis, a looseablat iv o with nothing to depend an , suggests that he did so.

The text of Detlefsen is impossible to translate without filling96

BOOK XXIV . LXXXII. 1 3 3—LXXXV. 1 3 5

An application of the leave s also cleanse s ulcers . It

is said that if anyone be fore sunrise says while plucking it that he doe s so

‘

to cure white spots in the

eye s , it dispe1 5es this affection if w orn as an amule t ;'

but tha t, in whatever w ay it is gathered , it is

beneficial for the eye s of boasts of burden and of

cattle .

LXXXIII. The chamae syce ground fig has Obama

le ave s like those of the lentil , and not rising above theground . It is found in dry and rocky localitie s .

Very use ful for clearne ss of vision and for arrestingcataract , an ointment prepared from it is also usedmost beneficially far scars , dimn ess of sight and filmsover the eye s . Applied as a pe ssary on a bit of linenit soothe s pains of the ute rus . Warts tao of eve rykind are removed by an ointment made from it . It

is a lso beneficia] for orthopnoea .

LXXXIV . The chamaecissos ground ivy is a C'Izama

plant with ears like those of wheat , with about fiv elittle branche s and many leave s . When in blossomit might be taken for the white viole t . The root isslender . For sciatica thre e abolì of the leave s are

taken in tw o cyathi of wine for seven days , but it is avery bitter draught .LXXXV . The chamae leuce ground poplar is Chama

called by us Romans farfarum or farfugium . It

grows by the side of rivers , and has le ave s like thoseof the poplar , but larger. Its root is placed on livecoals of cypre ss wood , and the fumes of it inhaledthrough a funne l for chroni c cough .

up the lacuna ; that of Mayhofî , with a juice used as an

ointment for scare , is clov er, but still leav es the Latinodd . The general sense is quite plain . UtLlLssLma and

utLlLssLmum (spelt —mù ) might easily bo confused.

VOL. VII.


LXXXVI. Chamaepeuce laricis folio simi li s lumborum e t spinae doloribus propria est . Chamae

cyparissos herba e x vino pata contra v enena serpen

tium omnium scorpionumque pallet . Ampe loprason

in vine tis nascitur, foliis porri , ructu gravis , contraserpentium ictus e fficax . urinam et menses ciet ,

eruptiones sanguinis per genitale inhibet potum

inpositumque . datur et a part u mulieribus et contracan is morsus . e a quoque quae stachys vacatur porrisimilitudinem habet , longioribus folii s pluribusque e t

odoris iucundi colorisque in luteum inclinati . pellit

menstrua .

LXXXVII. Clinopodium alii cleopiceton , alii z o

pyrantion , alu ocimoides appe llant , serpyllo similem,

surculosam, pa lm i a ltitudine , in petrosis , orbiculataflarum 1

ambitu speciem lecti pedum praebente .

bibitur ad convulsa , rupta , strangurias , serpentiumictus , item decoctae 3

sucus .

LXXXVIII. Nunc subt exemus herbas mirabilesqu idem , sed minus claras , nobilibus in sequentia

volumina dilatis .

Centunculum vacant nostri , foliis ad similitudinemcapitis paenularum , iacentem in arvis , Graeci

clematidem , egregii eff ectus ad sist endam alvum

in vino austero. idem sanguinem sistit tritus

1 flarum Warmington : foliorum codd.

decoctae suons duo codd . et Mayhafi , quLet ius pra sucus

cam fortas se reste : decocta et sucus ceterLcodd . , Detlef sen.

Dioscorides III. 95 (We llmann ) : (Exov ) à'

v61; Spamw ooìv e

’

x 8marqpxir w v , hav ing flowers like the feet of a cauch

at interv a ls .

”This is a good descript ion of wild basi] ; it is

the flowers, not the leav es, that are arranged in a circle at

interv als . Unless Pliny has made a mistake , w e must read ,

as in the Latin text , florum for f alLarum of the MSS .

98


oxyme litis aut aquae calidae cyathis qu inque denarii

un ius pandoro ,sic e t ad secundas mulierum e fiicax .

LXXXIX . Sed Graeci clematidas e t a lias habent ,unam quam aliqui aotiton vacant , a lii laginen , non

nu lli teunom scamoniam . ramas habet bipedalos ,1

foliosos , non dissimile s scamoniao, ni si quod nigriora

minoraque sunt folia . inv enitur in v inois arvisque .

e stur ut olus cum alec ac sale , alvum ciot . eadem dysintericis cum lini semine ex vino austera sorbe tur .

folia epiphoris inponuntur cum polenta subposito udc

lint eolo . strumas inposita ad suppuration em por

ducunt , de inde axungia adiecta porcurant , itemhaemorrhoida cum alec viridi , phthisicas iuv ant cum

molle . lactis quoque ubertatem faciunt in cibis , ot

infantibus inlita capillum alunt , ex aceto edentium

venerem stimulant .XC . Est alia clematis Aegyptia cognomine , quae

ab aliis daphnoide s , ab ali is polygonoides vacatur,folio lauri , longa t enuisque , adversus serpente s e t

privatim aspidas ex ace to pata e fficax .

XCI. Aegyptus hanc maxime gignit , quae et

aron , de qua inter bulbos diximus , magnae cum

dracontic litis . quidam enim candem osso dixere .

Glaucias satu discrev it , dracontium silv estrem arum

1 bipedales Hard. pedalos multLcodd M ayhaff .

Soe XIX . 5 96 . The translat ion might be : know n a lsoas aram,

but there is no other ev idence that clemat is w as

called aram.

Littré has : par le lieu de leur croissance , and so

Bostock and Riley.

1 0 0

BOOK XXIV. LXXXVIII. 1 3 8—xcr. 14 2

pounded and taken in doses of one denarius by we ightto fiv e cyathi of oxyme l or warm water ; this prescription also he lps the after- birth .

LXXXIX . But the Gre eks have a lso other kindsof clematis , one of which some cal l aetite s , otherslagino, and others the slender scammony .

”

It has

branche s tw o fe e t long,leafy , and not unl ike those of

scammony , except that the le ave s are darker and

smaller . It is found in vineyards and cu ltivatedfie lds , is eaten as salad with oil and sa lt , and re laxe sthe bowe ls . With l inseed it is a lso drunk in a dry wineby sufferers from dysentery . The leave s with pearlbarley are applied to fluxes from the eye s , a damp ragbe ing first placed underne ath . An application drawsscrofulous soros to suppuration , and then a furtherapplication with axle - gre ase comple te s the cure .

With gre en oil also they are beneficial for haemor

rhoids , and with honey for consumptive s . Takenas a food they a lso promote an abundant supply of

human milk , applied to the heads of babie s theystimulate the growth of hair , and e aten with vinegarthey act as an aphrodisiac .

XC . The re is another clematis , called a lso the

Egyptian , by some daphnoide s and by others poly

gonaidos , with a le af like that of the bay ; it is longand S lender, and taken in vinegar is efiicaciaus againstthe bite of serpents , be ing spe cific for that of asps .

XCI. It is Egypt e spe cially that produces thisclematis , and also the aron , which Ihave mentionedin my section on bulbs ; about it and dracontiumthere has been sharp controve rsy , for some haveasserted that the tw o are the same . Glauciasdistinguished them by the ir made of reproduction

,

“

declaring that dracontium is wild aron . Some have

Aran,cantium,

dracuncz


pronunt iando . aliqui radicem arum appe llarunt .

caulem voro dracontium , in totum alium , si modo hicest qui apud nos dracunculus vocatur . namque

aros radicem nigram in latitudinem rotundam habetmultoque maiorem e t 1 qua manus inpleatur , dracunculus subrutilam et dracon i s convoluti modo , undee t nomen .

XCII. Quin e t ipsi Graeci inmonsam posuere

differentiam : semen dracunculi ferv ens tradendo,

tantumque ei virus ut olfactum gravidis abortum inferre t , aram miris laudihus tulere

,primum

in cibis , feminam prae ferentes , quoniam mas durior

e sse t et in coquendo lentiar. pe ctoris vitia purgare ,aridum paticu i inspersum aut ecligmate urinam e t

mense s ciere , sic e t in oxyme li te patum. stomacho

int eran e isque exulceratis ex lacte ovillo bibendum,

ad tussim in cinere cactum dedere ex alec . aliicoxere in lacte ut de coctum bibere tur. epiphoris

e lixum inposuore item suggillatis , tonsillis. Glaucias 3ex alec haemorrhaidum vitia infudit ,“ lentigine s ex

mello inlinens .

“ laudav it e t pro antidoto contrav enena , pleureticis , peripleumonicis quo tussientibus

1 et codd. et M ayhajj“

ut Detlefsen .

2 tonsillis . Glaucias M aghaj tonsillis, Detlef sen : ton

sillas fere omnes codd .

3 in fudit V, M ayhafi infundit dX, SLln : in fudere vulg. ,

Detlef sen : e fiudi t Cleophantus Ianus .

illinens codd . il lin entes vulg. , Detlef sen.

With the reading of Detlefsen much too large

merely to fill the hand .

Draco, from which dracunculus is deriv ed . Dioscorides says (II. 166) that it is the xa vÀés (stem) w hich isd<ptoeL57jg like a snake

Or, with no camma at eLbLs and primum prLorem,

preferring the female as a food etc.

”

1 0 2


mado . semen intritum cum alec aut rosaceo infunditur aurium dolori . Dieuches tussientibus et sus

piriosis et orthopnoicis et pura excreant ibus farinae

permixtum pane cocto dedit . Diodotus phthi sicis e

molle ecligmat e e t pulmonis v itiis , ossibus e tiam fractitimposuit . partus omnium animalium extrahi t naturaecircumlitum. sucus radi cis cummelloAttico oculorum

caligine s , stomachi vi t ia discut it , tussim decocti ius

cum molle . ulce ra omnium generum , sive phagedaomao sint sive carcinomata sive serpant , sive polypiin naribus , sucus mire sanat . folia ambustis prosuns

e t vino e t alec cocta . alv um inaniunt ex sale e t acetosumpta , e t luxatis cum molle cocta prosunt , item articul is podagricis cum sale recentia v el sicca . H ippocrate s utralibe t ad collectiones cummolle inposuit . ad

mens e s trahendos seminis v el radicis drachmae duaoin v ini cyathis duabus sufficiunt . e adem patio , si a

partu non purgentur , e t secundas trahit . H ippocrates e t radicem ipsam adposuit . dicunt e t in

pestilentia salutarem e sse in cibis . ebrietat em discutit . serpente s nidore , cum crematur , priv atimque

aspidas fugat aut inebriat ita ut tarpent es inv eni antur .

perunctos quoque ara e laurea alec fugiunt . idea e t

Dieuches w as a Dogmatic of the fourth century B .C .

This , i.e . , bread crumbs ,” must

,I think , be the sense of

farina e pane cacia. But one would expect panis caciL. Per

haps farina e is a glass that has crept into the text .

Diodotus w as a physician of the first or second ce nturyB .C.

Ius seems to donato a more liquid form of juice than sucus .

BOOK XXIV . xcu . 145—148

pneumon ia . The se ed pounded up with olive oil or

rose oil is inj ected for e ar—ache . Dieuches adminis

t ered it , thoroughly mixed wi th the powder from a

loaf ,“ for coughs , asthma , orthopnoe a , and the spittingof pus . Diodotus gave it in the form of an honeye lectuary for consumption and compla ints of the

lungs , and even used it as an application for brokenbones . Applied round the sexual parts it he lpsde livery of all animals . Dimne ss of vision and disorders of the stomach are removed by the ju ice of

the root with Attic honey , and cough by the brothof a decoction with the addition of honey . The

juice is a wonderful remedy for u lcers of all kinds ,whether corroding , cance rous , spre ading, or poly

pus in the nostrils . The le ave s , boiled in wine and

oil , are good for burns . Taken in salt and vinegarthey are a strong purge , boiled with honey they are

good for dis locations , and a lso fresh ar dr ied , withsalt added , for gouty joints . Hippocrate s appliedthem , fre sh or dried , with honey locally to boils . As an

emmenagogue tw o drachmae of the se ed or root intw o cyathi of w ine are suflicient , and the same

draught , if cleansing after de livery is not e ffe cted , a lsobrings away the after- birth . Hippocrate s also usedthe root by itse lf as a pe ssary . It is said too thattime s of plague it is healthful to take it in one

’sfood . It dissipate s the e ffe cts of drunkenne ss . The

fume s arising from it when it burns ke ep away ser

pents , e specially asps , or make them so tipsy thatthey are found in a state of torpor . Serpents are alsokept off if the body is thoroughly rubbed with aron

in oil of bay. For this reason it is a lso considered

As I can find no reference to aron in the Hippocrat ic Corpus , Pliny is alluding to some w ork now lost .

10 5


contra ictus dari potu in vino nigra putant utile . in

foliis ari caseus optime sorvari traditur.

XCIII. Dracuncu lus quem dixi hordeo mature scente e ffodi tur luna cre scente . omnino habentem

serpente s fugiunt . adeo 1pe rcussis prodesse potum

aiunt ; maiorem v im e sse ,

2 si ferro non attingatur .

sucus e ius e t aurium dolori prodest .

Id autem quod Graeci dracontium vacant triplicie ffigie demonstratum mihi est : folii s betae , non sinethyrso , flore purpureo ; hoc est simi le ara . aliiradice longa voluti signata articulosaque monstrav ere ,

tribus omnino cauliculis , falia e ius 3 deooqui ex acetocontra serpentium ictus iubent es . tertia demon

stratio fuit folio maiore quam camus , radi ce harundinoa, totidem , ut adfirmabant , geniculata

“nodis

quot haberet annos , totidemque e sse falia . hi ex

v ino v el aqua contra serpente s dabant .

XCIV . Est et aris quae in eadem Aegypto nascitur , simili s ara , minor tantum minoribusque foliis e t 5

utique radice , quae tamen olivae grandis magnitudinem inple at , alba gominum caulem , altera unumtantum emittens . mede turutraquoulceribusmanantibus, item ambustis ac fistulis collyria inmisso .

1adea] in aceto canL. M ayhajf idea X, vulg.

v im esse canL. Detlefsen, quem sequLtur Mayhajf : ut

mensos (autmasses; codd .

3 foha e ius X , vulg. foliisque Detlefsen : foliis cadd

S tllig, M ayhajff quLetiamcaul iculi foliis cam .

“ harundinea . geniculataDetlefsen : harundineae

genicul atae M ayhaff utraque lectLo Ln codd. LneenLtur.

et delere vult Warmington .

What w e call red wine .

In part s of this chapter, Pliny appears to confuse tw o dif

ferent plants.

1 0 6


namas sistunt de cocta folia carum 1 in aqua e t postea 3trita rosaceo addita . sed unum miraculum ingens

'

;

contacto genitali cuiusque feminini se xus animal in

perniciem agi.

XCV . Myriophyllon , quod nostri milifolium vacant ,caulis e st tenori , simil is feniculo , plurimis foliis , undéot nomen accepit . nascitur in palustribus , magnificiusus ad vu lnera cum aceto . bibitur ad difficultat es

urinae e t ve sicae aut suspiria prae cipitatisque ex

alto . eadem officacissima ad dentium dolore s.Etruria hac nomine appe llat herbam in pratis tenuem ,

a lateribus capillamenti modo faliosam, eximii ususad vulnera , boum nervos abscisas vomero solidari earursusque iungi addita axungia adfirmans .

XCVI. Pseudobunion napi folia habe t , fruticanspalmi a ltitudine , laudatissima in Creta . contratormina , stranguriam lat erum prae cordiorumque

'

dolore s bibuntur rami e ius quini seniv e .

XCVII. Myrris , quam alii myrriz an , alii myrranvacant , simillima ost cicutae cau le foliisque et flore ,minor tantum et e xiliar, cibo non insuavis . ciet

menstrua e t partus cum vino . aiunt candem potamin pestilentia salutarem e sse . subv enit e t phthisicis

in sorbitione data . av iditatom cibi facit , phalangio1um morsus restinguit . ulcera quoque in

1 decocta falia carum SLln, vet. [ect. Da l . z decocta ear'

umDetlefsen : inlitu decactarum ex Dioscoride M ayhoff .

postea trita] pasca tritarum Detlef sen : postea tritarumMaghaj .

This chapter is like Dioscorides II 168, where howev erdploapov is the name of the plant discussed. One sentence is

v ery informat iv o : q$fielpa Bè «a i a l50 îov «avr ò; {giov e’

vr edeîa a

77 ptCG. .

1 0 8

BOOK XXIV… xc1v . 1 51—x0 v11. 1 54

of it be inserted . Corroding ulcers are arre sted byan application of the ir leave s boiled in water and

then be aten up with the addition of rose oil . But

there i s one gre at marve l conne cted with this plantif it touche s the sexual organs of any female animalshe i s driven to de struction .

“

XCV . The myriophyllon ,which our people ca ll

mi lle folium , has a tender stem like that of fenne l ,with abundance of leave s , which have a lso giventhe plant its name .

“ It is found in marshy districts ,and with vinegar make s a splendid treatment forwounds . In drink it i s taken for strangury , affe ctionsof the bladder , asthma , and falls from a he ight . It isalso very e fficacious for tooth - ache . In - Etruria the

name is given to a slim me adow - plant , with manyleave s at the side s like hair, and e xtreme ly beneficia]for wounds ; the people declare that applied withaxle—grease it unite s the tendons of oxen when cut

by the plough - share and close s the wound .

XCVI. The psoudobunion has the le ave s of the

navew ; it grows into a bush about a span he ight ,the most e ste emed be ing found in Cre te . Far colic ,strangury and pains in the side s or hypochondriadose s of fiv e or six sprays are taken in drink .

XCVII. The myrris , also called myrriz a or myrra ,

is very like hemlock in stem, leave s and flower, butsmaller and more S lender, and not unple asant as a

food . With “ wine it promote s menstruation and

facilitate s de livery . It is sa id that it is also hea lthfulto take it in drink in time of plague . Giv en in brothit he lps consumptive s . It sharpens the appetito and

allays the bite of poisonous spiders . Soros too on the

Myriophyllon means plant with ten thousand leav es,and millefolium plant w ith a thousand leav es .

”

Mille/'t

Pse udobunion.

Myrr'is.


facie aut capite sucus e ius in aqua triduo mace ratae

sanat .

XCVIII. O enobroches falia lentis habe t , longiorapaulo , florem rubentem , radicem exiguam e t gracilem. nascitur circa fonte s . siccata in farinae

modum e t inspersa vino albo strangurias finit , alvum

sistit . sucus e ius perunctis cum alec sudore s mov et .

XCIX. In promisso herbarum mirabilium occurr italiqua dicere et de magicis . quae enim mirabiliores ?primi e as in nostro arbo ce lebrav ere Pythagorasatque Democritus , consectati M egas . coracesia

e t calicia Pythagoras aquam glaciari tradit , quarum

mentionem apud alias non reperio , nec apud eumalia de his .

C . Idem minyada appe llat et nomine alia corinthiam , cuius de cocta in aqua suca prot inus sanariictus serpent ium , si fov e antur, dicit . eundeme ffusum 1 in herbam qui v estigia cont igerint aut fortere spersos insanabili leto perire , manstrifica prorsus

natura v eneni prae t erquam contra vomena .

CI. Ab eadem Pythagora aproxis appellatur herbacu ius radix e longinquo concipiat igne s ut naphtha , de

qua in ter1ae miraculis diximus . idem tradit , qui

1eundem e ffusum vulg. , Ill ayhajf eandem e fiusam could

Detlef sen . DLflicilLar haec lectLo non potLor.

These , perhaps girls’

plant and beauty plant , hav e

not been ident ified with any certa inty. It is sa id that

CLssampelas pareLra giv es a kind of consistency to water without impairing it s transparency. It 1s diffi cul t , if not impossible ,t o ident ify the plants ment ioned in this sect ion of Pliny withthe ir scanty descript ions , fanciful names , and magicalpropert ies .

Is it un reasonable to suppose that the names a yas and

carinthia are not unconnected with the legend of the sorceress

1 1 0


morbi humano corpori inciderint fiorente brassica,

1

quamv is sanatos admcnit ionem eorum sentire , quotiense a he rba flore at , qui

2 fiorente acciderint aut frumentoaut cicuta aut viola similem condit ion em habere . nec

me fallit hoc volumen e ius a quibusdam Cle emporo

medico adscribi , verum Pythagoraepert inax fama an

t iquitasque v indicant . e t id ipsum auctoritatem voluminum adfert , si quis a lius curao suae opus illo virodignum indicavit , quod fecisse Cle emporum , cum a liasuo e t nomine edere t , quis credat ?

CII. Dcmocriti ce rte chirocme ta e sso constat . at 3

in his ille post Pythagoram M agorum studiosissimus

quanto portentosiora tradit ! aglaophotim herbam ,

quae admirat ione hominum propter eximium coloremacceperit nomen , in marmoribus Arabiae nascentem

Pe rsico latere , qua de causa et marmaritim vocari .

hac M agos uti , cum v e lint docs evocare .

Achaemenida colore e lectri sine folio nasci in 5

Taradas tilis Indiae , qua pata in vino noxii per

cruciatus confit eantur omnia per varias numinum

1 brassica Detlefsen , M ayhajf , codd . : aproxi vulg.

2quotiens ea herba floreat , qui Detlef sen : quotiens floreat ;

item si M ayhofl”

quot iens solum codd .

at om. d , fortasse recte.

Ante aglaophot im add. ut M ayhoff .nasci in Detlef sen nascentem Ill ayhofi nascens in codd .

qua Detlefsen , M ayhofi quae codd . cuius radice in

pastillos digesta in dieque vulg.

O‘

h

tu')

The vul gate reading aproxLhas no MS . authority,although

X has approxica , but I feel that aproxLmakes the better sens e ,and that brassica is a blunder.

1 1 2

BOOK XXIV . CI. 1 58—0 11. 161

of dise ases which have attacked the human bodywhen the cabbage is in blossom , even though the

patient has be en cured , are fe lt to re cur every time

this plant blossoms ; ho spe aks of a similar peculiarity follow ing disease s which have

°

attacked whenwhe at , hemlock or the viole t is in flower . I amaware that this book of his is ascribed by some to the

physician Cle emporus , but an ancient and unbrokentradition assigns it to Pythagoras . Were the authoranyone e lse

,the more fact that he has considered the

re sult of his labour worthy of that gre at thinkerenhance s the authority of a book ; but w ho wouldbe lieve that Cleemporus acted so , since ho publishedother works , and that under his ow n name ?

CII. That Democritus w as the author of the bookcalled Chiracmeta is a we ll - atte sted tradition ; y et

in it this famous scientist , the ke ene st student nextto Pythagoras of the M agi , has told us of far more

marve llous phenomena . For e xample , the plantaglaophotis ,

“ which re ce ived its name from men’s

wonder at its magnificent colour, be ing native , ho

says , to the marble quarrie s of Arabia on the Persianside , is the 1 e fore also called marmaritis . The M agiuse it , ho te lls us , when they wish to call up gods .

Thè achaemenis , ho rep0 1 ts , is of an amber colour ,le afiess and found among the Taradastili of India ;criminals , according to him , if they drink it in wine ,

confe ss all the ir misde eds because they suff e r tor

It is difficult to decide whether this re fers to brassica or to

the aproxis . If to the former, this sentence has nothingwhatev er to do with the aproxis ; if to the latter, the reason

for the introduction of brasc a is v ery Obscure .

The at of nearly al] MSS . mars the logic of this passage , andmay be an instance of dit tography from consta t.

Bright light ,”

perhaps peony (PaeanLa oflîcinalLs ).

Aglaop

Achaem


imaginationes , eandem hippophabada appe llat , quoniam equae praecipue cav eant e am .

Theombrotion xxx schoenis a Choaspe nasci , pavonum 1

picturis similem , odore e ximio. hanc a regibus

Persarum bibi contra omnia corporum incommoda instabilitat emque mentis et iustitiae , 2 e andem semniona potentiae maie state appe llari .

Aliam de inde adamantida Armeniae Cappado

ciae que alumnam . hac admota leone s resupinari

cum biatu lasso. nomin is causam e sse quod cantori

neque at .

Arianida in Arianis gigni igneam colore , colligi,cum sol in leone sit . huius tactu peruncta alec lignaaccendi .

Th e rianarca in Cappadocia et Mysia nascenteomn e s feras torpescore nec nisi hyaenae urina ad

spersa re crear1 .

A ethi opida in M erce nasci , ob id et meroida

appellari , folio lactucae , hydropicis utilissimam e

mulso potam .

1pav onum SLZZLg, Detlef sen : pav onis cum aq ua t codd .

M ayhofi .

instabilitatemque mentis et ius titiae] inmota stabilitatement is et iustitiae Detlef sen incommoda a stabilitate ment iset iustit iae M ayhoff , quLmentis et iustitiae uncLs sedusit :

ins tabilitatemque mentis vulg. fortasse ad stabilitatemmentiset iustitiae varLa codd

I take the tortures to be those caused by the hauntingphantoms, as is suggested by the repeated per of per crucLa tus

and per LarLas numinum LmagLna tLanes, though the phrases areseparated . But by per crucLatus Pliny may simply mean

while they are be ing tortured as part of their punishment .

”

So Mayhaff (Appendix) narLLLnter crucia tus .

Food for th e gods .

The schoenus w as a measure of forty stades in length,about fiv e miles .

1 14


Ophiusam in Elephantine eiusdem A ethiopiae ,liv idam di fficilemque aspectu , qua pata terroremminasque serpentium obv ersari ita ut mortem sibi eomotu consciscant , ob id cogi sacrilegos illam bibere ,adv ersari e i palmeum vinum.

Thalassaeglen circa Indum amnem inv eniri, quaeab id nomine alia potamaugis appellatur, hac pata

lymphari homine s obv ersantibus miraculis.

Theangelida in Libano Syriae , Diet e Cretae

montibus ot Babylone e t Susis Persidis nasci , quapata M agi divinont .

G e lotophyllida in Bactri s et circa Borysthenen .

haec si bibatur cum murra e t vino, varias obv ersarispecies ridendique finem non fieri nisi potis nucleis

pineae nucis cum pipero e t mello in vino palmeo.

Hestiat erida a canv ictu nominari in Pe rside ,quoniam hilarentur illa , candem protomediam , qua

primatum apud rege s obtineant , casigne ten quoniamsecum ipsa nascatur , nee cum aliis u lli s horbis , e audem dionysonymphadem , quoniam vino mire con

v eniat .

Helianthes vocat in Th emiscyrena regione e t

Ciliciae mont ibus maritimis , folio myrti . hac cumadipe leonina de cocta , addita croco e t palmeo vino,

Snake plant .

Sea brightness .

Riv er gleam .

”

Messenger from god

Leav es of laught er.

f Plant of the fami ly hearthHeadship of the Modes .

Sister plant . Authorit ies diff er here some take allfour names to refer to the same plant , others think that thereare tw o, the second being the cas ignete.

Bride of Dionysus .

1 16

BOOK XXIV . cu . 163— 165

The ophiuéa ho speaks of as growing in Elephan Ophizwa

tino, which also be longs to Ethiopia , a plant livid

in colour and revolting to look at , to take which indrink cause s such terrible Visions of threateningserpents that fear of them cause s su icide ; whe re forethose guilty of sacrilege are forced to drink it . An

antidoto is palm wine .

The thalassaogle w e are told is found along the Thalass

river Indus , and is there fore also ca lled potamaugis ,“

to drink which cause s mon to rave , while we irdVisions be set the ir minds .The the angelis ,

“Democritus says , grows cn Mount TheangeLebanon in Syria , on M ount Diete in Cre te , and inBabylon and Susa in Persia ; the M agi take it indrink to gain power to divine .

The ge lotophyllis grows in Bactria and a long the Gelotaph

Borysthenes . If this be taken in myrrh and wineall kinds of phantoms be se t the mind , causing laughterwhich persists until the kerne ls of pine - nuts are takenwith pepper and honey in palm wine .

According to the same authority the host iatoris f Hestz'

at

is a Persian plant , so named-

from its promotion of

good fe l lowship , be cause it make s the company gay ;it is also ca lled pr0 tomedia ,

“ from its use to gain thehighe st position at Court ; casigne t e ,

“ because itgrows Only in company with its ow n Spe cie s , and not

with"

any other plants ; also dionysonymphas ,“becauseit goes wonderfully we ll with Wine .

He lianthes is the name given to a plant with ll elianth

le ave s like those of the myrtle , growing in the districtof Themiscyra and on the mounta ins along the coastsof Cilicia . A de coction of it in lion ’s fat , with saff ronand palm wine added , is used , ho says , as an ointment

Sun flower.


perungui M agas et Persarum rege s ut fiat corpus

aspectu iucundum,idea candem heliocallida nami

nari .Hormesias ab eadem vacatur ad liberos generandos

pulchros banosque , non herba sed eonpositio e nucle is

pineae nucis tritis eum molle , murra , croco , vinopalmeo, postea admixto theombrotio et lacte . bibere

generaturas iube t e t a eonceptu e t 1 puerperas partumnutrientes , ita fieri Texce llente s anima e t forma atquebonos .j

‘ 2atque harum omniummagica quoque voca

bula ponit .

Adieeit his Apollodorus adsectator e ius herbamaesehynomenen , quoniam adpropinquante manu fa liacontraheret , aliam crocida , cuius tactu phalangia

morerentur , Crateuas onothurin ,3 cu ius aspersu e

vino feritas omnium animalium mitigaretur, ana

campseratom eeleber arto grammatica paulo ante ,cu ius omnino tactu redirent amore s v el cum odiodepositi . e t abunde sit hactenus attigisse insigniaMagorum in horbis a lia de his aptiore dicturis loco .

1et conL. Dal. am. Detlefsen, IlIayhofl , codd.

excellentes animo et forma atque bonos X , vu lg. ante

SLln : excellentes animi et formae bonis Detlef sen , M ayhoffexcellentis d SLln : an excellentis animi

‘

et formae bonos

onothurin conL. Ianus collataDioscorLde IV. 117 Wellmann)oenotherin Detlefsen oenotheridem vulg. varLa codd.

Beauty of the Sun .

The text is very un certain . Perhaps the original w as

excellent aa Let formae, bonos or bonis being added by some

scri ba w ho remembered the opening w ards o f this section. SeeAds ional Notes , p. 483 .

The shy plant .

Probably Apian (c ca A .D .

Restorer of lost lov e.

”


CIII. Eriphiammulti prodidere . scarabaeum haec

in avena habe t sursum deorsum decurrentem cum

sono haedi , unde e t nomen accepit . hac ad vocem

nihil praestant ius e sse tradunt .

CIV. Herba lanaria ov ibus ieiunis data lactis

abundantiam facit . aeque nota lactoris vulgo est ,

plena lactis quod degustatum vomitiones concitat .

candem hanc aliqui e sse dicunt , ali i similem illi quam

militarem vacant , quoniam vulnus ferro factumnullum non intra die s qu inque sanat ex alec

inposita .

CV . Celebratur autem et a Graecis stratiote s , sede a in Aegypto tantum e t inundatione Nili nascitur ,aizac simi lis , ni ma iara haberet folia . re frigerat

mire ot vulnera sanat ex aceto inlita , item igne ssacros et suppurationes . sanguinem quoque qui

defluit a renibus pata cum ture masculo mirificesistit .

CVI. Herba in capite statuae nata collecta in

ve stis alicuius pannum e t inligata lino1rufo capitis

dolore s adposita confestim sedare traditur .

CVII. Herba quaecumque e riv is aut fluminibus

ante solis ortum colle cta ita ut nemo colligentem

v idoat adalligata laevo bracchio ita ut aeger quid sitillud ignoret t ertianas arcore traditur .

CVIII. Lingua herba nascitur circa fonte s . radixe ius combusta e t trita cum adipe suis— adiciunt ut

1 lino SLln, M ayhofl in lino codd .

BOOK XXIV . cu r. 1 68—cv111. 1 70

CIII. Many have de scribed the eriphia . It has a The m'

;

beetle running up and down inside its stem, making a

noise like that of a kid ; hence also come s its name .

“

It is said that nothing is better than this plant forimprov ing the voice .

CIV. The wool—plant given to fasting she ep pro The

duce s an abundance of milk . Equally we ll known lll?fdfzîn

generally is the lactoris , a plant full of mi lk a taste ofwhich produce s vomitings . Some say that this isthe same plant (others say one like it) as that calledthe military plant , because there is no wound madeby iron whi ch is not cured within fiv e days by an

application of it in oil .

CV . Another plant highly popular among the The.

Gre eks is the stratiote s , but it grows only in Egyptwhen the Nile is in Hood ; it is like the aiz oiim, onlyits leave s are larger . It is wonderfully cooling , and

applied in vinegar he als wounds , as we ll as erysipe lasand suppurations . It also arre sts haemorrhage of

the kidneys in a marve llous w ay if taken in drinkwith male frankincense .

CVI. A plant that grows on the head of a statue , Variousgathered into a pie ce taken from some garment andtied on with red thread , is said to re lieve headacheimmediate ly on be ing applied .

CVII. Any plant whatsoever, gathered be foresun - rise out of streams or rivers , provided thatnobody secs the gatherer , if it is tied as an

amu let to the le ft arm , is said to ke ep away tertianague s , provided that the patient does not knowwhat is going on .

CVIII. The plant called tongue grows around Tongu

springs . Its root , burnt and pounded w ith pig’s

The kid -

plant .”


nigra sit et sterilis— alopecias emendat unguentium

in solo.

CIX. Cribro in limite abiecto herbae intus extantes

decerptae adalligataeque grav idis partus adcelerant .

CX . Herba quae gignitur super fimeta ruris contra

anginas e fficacissimo pallet ex aqua pata .

CXI. Herba iuxta quam cane s urinam fundunt

ev ulsa ne ferro attingatur luxatis ee lerrime medetur.

CXII. Rumpat inum arborem demanstrav imus

inter arbusta . iuxta hanc v iduam vite nascitur herba

quam Ga lli rodarum vacant . caulem habet v irgae

fieulneae modo geniculatum,folia urticae in medio

exalbida ,e adem procedente tempore tota rubentia,

flarem argenteum , praecipua contra tumores fervor

e sque e t collectiones cum axungia v otere tusa ita ut

ferro non attingatur. qui perunctus est despuit ad

suam dexteram terna . e fficacius remedium e sse

aiunt , si tres trium nationum homine s perungant

dextrorsus .

CXIII. Herba impie vacatur incana , rorismarini

aspectu , thyrsi modo ve stita atque capitata . inde

alii ramuli exsurgunt sua capitula gerente s , ab id

impiam appe llav ere , quoniam liberi super parentem

e xce llant . alii potius ita appe llatam, quoniam

nu llum animal e am attingat , existimav ere . haec

Book XIV, 12 .


inter duos lapide s trita ferve t praecipua adve rsusanginas suca , lacte e t v ino admixto. mirum traditurnumquam eo morbo t emptari qui gustav e rint . ita

que e t subus dari , quae que medicamentum idnoluerint haurire oo morbo intorimi . sunt qui

avium nidis inserì aliquid ox ea putout atque ita non

strangulari pullas av idius devorante s .

CXIV Veneris pectinem appe llant a similitudine

pe ctinum,cuius radix cum ma lva tusa omnia corpori

infixa extrahit .

CXV . Vetemo liberat quae exedum vacatur.

natia herba eoriariorum officinis fami liari s 1 est a li isaliisv e nominibus , e fficacissimamque adversus scorpionem e sse potam e v ino aut posca reporia .

CXVI. Philanthropon herbam Graeci appe llantnasute , quoniam v estibus adhaerescat . ex hac

corona inposita capitis dolore s sedat . nam quaecanaria appe llatur lappa , cum plantagine e t milif oliatrita ex vino carcinomata sanat , ternis diebus 2 soluta .

medetur e t subus e ffossa sine ferro addita in colluv iem

paturis v e l ex lacte ac vino. quidam adiciunt

e ffodientem dicere apartere : haec est herba argeman

quam M inerva repperit subus remedium quae de illa

gustav erint .

CXVII. Tardylon alii semen silis 3 e sse dixerunt ,a lii herbam per se , quam e t syreon voeav erunt .

1 familiaris Ian Detlef sen, M ayh-afi eam hilaris aut ea

vill aris codd .

2 Ilf ayhoff (Appendix) non add . vel a ante ternis .

3silis tres codd . , M ayhojj

‘sesilis Detlef sen .

ImpLus has also the meaning impious.

Lav er of man .

Or sesilis (Detlefsen).

BOOK XXIV . cx111 . 1 74—cxv11 . 1 77

touches it .

“ Crushed betwe en tw o stone s this plantgives out an e fferve scing juice , which added to milkand wine is a sovere ign remedy for quinsies .Attributed to it is this wonderful prope rty ; thatthey w ho have tasted it are never attacked byqu insy . Accordingly , they say, it is also given to

pigs, and those re fusing to swallow the medicine are

cut off by that compla int . There are some w ho

think that a little of it is woven into birds ’ ne sts ,and that this is why chicks are not choked bygulping - thoir food too gre edily .

CXIV . Venus ’

camb is so named from its re sem Venus

blanco to combs ; its root pounded with mallowsextracts all fore ign bodie s lodged in the fle sh .

CXV . The plant called exedum dispe ls le thargy .

The plant natia is we ll known under various name sin the curriers

’ work—shops ; I find that taken in wineor vinegar and water it is most e fficacious for the

sting of scorpions .

CXVI Philanthropos is a name which the Gre eks Philamin witty sarcasm give to a plant be cause it sticks to the 1"0 3 °

clothe s . A chaple t made out of it and placed on the

head re lieve s he adache s . But what is called dog Dog- bu

bur, if beaten up in wine with plantain and millefolium , heals c ancerous soros , the plaster be ing takenoff every third day. It also euros pigs , if dug upwithout iron ; it is added to the ir swill be fore they goto f eed , or e lse given them in milk and w ine . Some

add that as he is ge tting it up the digger should sayThis is the plant argomon ,w hich M ine rva discovered

to be a remedy for the pigs that shall taste of it .

”

CXVII. Some have said that tordylon is the se ed Tordyt

of sili ,“ others that it is itse lf a plant , which theyhave also called syreon . I find nothing recorded of

1 2 5


neque aliud de e a proditum inv enio quam in mantibus

nasci , conbustam potu ciere mense s ot pectorisexcreationes , e fficaciore etiamnum radice , suca e iusternis obolis hausto rene s sanari , addi radicem e iuse t in malagmata .

CXVIII. Gramen ipsum inter herbas vulgat is

simum geniculatis serpit internodiis crebraque ab his

e t ex cacumine novas radice s spargit . folia e ius inre liqua arbo in exilitatem fastigantur , in Parnasotantum hederacia specie densius quam usquam

fruticant , flore adorato candidoque . iumentis herbanon alia gratior sive v iridis sive in fenum 1

siccata ,2

cum detur adspersa aqua , sucumque e ius in Parnasoexcipi tradunt propter ubert at em. dulcis hic e st .

in v ieem e ius in reliqua parte t errarum suecedit

decoctum ad vulnera conglutinanda , quod e t ipsaherba tusa praest at tueturque ab inflammationibus

plagas .

3adieitur de cocta v inum ac me l , ab aliquis ot

turis , piperis , murrae t ert iae portione s , rursusque

coquitur in aereo vase ad den tium dolore s , epiphoras .

radix de cocta in vi no torminibus medetur e t urinae

di fficultatibus ulceribusque ve sicae , ca lculas frangit .

semen v ehementius urinam inpelli t , alv um vomitione sque sistit . privatim autem draconum morsibus

auxiliatur . sunt qui genicula novem v e l unius v el eduabus tribusv e horbis ad hunc articulorum numeruminvolvi lana sucida nigra iubeant ad remedi a strumae

1 fenum conL. ego et Dalec. fono codd. et cd -Ltores pleq ue.

2siccata duo codd . , Detlef sen : siccate-e duo codd . : sicca-ta

et eanL. M ayhojf .

3plagas E( Ian . , Detlef sen, M ayhojff praeligata SLln

placat aut paeat ceterLcodd .

For this intensifying Lpse, of . 5 188 Lpsa cla ritas, the

peculiar glory .

”

1 2 6


panorumv e . ieiunum e sse dobere qui colligat , sicabire 1 in domum absentis cui medeatur superv enientique t er dicere ieiuno ieiunum medicamentum

dare,atque ita adalligare triduaque id facere . quod

e graminum genere septem internodia habetoflieacissime capiti contra dolore s adalligatur. qui

dam propter ve sicae cruciatus decoctum ex vino gramen ad dimidias a balineis bibi iubent .

CXIX . Sunt qui e t acule atum gramen v ocent

trium generum . cum in cacumine acule i sunt

plurimum qu imi , dactylon appe llant . has convoluta snaribus inserunt extrahuntque sanguinis ciendi

gratia . a ltero , quod ost aiz oo simile , ad paronychiae t pterygia unguium e t , cum caro unguibus increv it ,

utuntur cum axungia , idea dactylon appe llantes , quiadigitis mede atur . te rtium genus dactyli , sed tenuis ,nascitur in parie tinis aut t egulis . huic caustica v is

est . sistit u lcera quae serpunt . gramen capiticircumdatum sanguinis o naribus fluct iones sistit .

came los necare traditur in Babylonis regione id quadiuxta vias nascitur .

CXX . Nec fono Grae ca minor auctoritas , quodte lin vacant , a lii carphos , aliqui bueeras , alii aegoceras ,quoniam corniculis semen e st simile , nos siliciam .

quomodo sere retur docuimus suo loca . vis e iussiccare , mollire , dissolvere . sucus decoct i feminarum pluribus malis subv enit , sive duritia sive

sia abire Detlef sen : ita ire cum una cod. Mayhoff varLa

Ox horn . Goat’

s horn .

See XVIII. 140 .

1 2 8

BOOK XXIV . cxvm . 181—cxx. 184

superficial abscesse s . The person gathering it , theyadd, ought to be fasting , and in this stato ho shouldproce ed to the house of the patient whi le he is away ,and on his appearance say thre e time s : Fasting Igive a cure to a fasting patient , and so fasten the

nine joints as an amu le t . This is to be done on thre edays running . The kind of grass that has sevenspaces be tween knots make s a very e ff ective amule tfor headache . For severe pains in the bladder samo

authoritie s prescribe a decoction of grass in wine ,boiled down to one half , to be drunk after the bath .

CXIX . There are some w ho speak of three kinds of

painted grass . When on e ach head there are at

most fiv e points they call it finger grass .

” The sepoints plaited together they insert into the nostrilsand draw them out again to cause ble eding . The

second kind , which is like the aiz oiim,they use w ith

axle—grease for whitlows , hangnails , and when fle shhas grown over the nails , calling it finger grass ,because it heals the fingers . There is a third kind of

finger grass , but it is Slender , growing on ruins or

tiles . Its propertie s are caustic , and it checkscre eping ulcers . Grass put round the head checkscopious bleeding at the nose . It is said that in the

district of Babylon came ls are killed by the grassthat grows by the side of the roads .

CXX . He ld in no le ss honour is fenugre ek , which is F enugrealso called te lis , carphos , bueeras ,

“and aegoceras ,

“

because its seed is shaped like small horns ; the

Roman name for it is silicia . The method of sawingit w e have de scribed in its proper place .

“ Its pra

perties are to dry , to soften and to dissolve . The

juice of the decoction is of he lp in several ailments ofwomen : whether it is hardness , swe lling or con

VOL. VII.


tumor sive contractio sit vulvae , fov entur , insidunt .

infusum quoque prodest . furfure s in facie ext enuat .

spleni addita nitro decoctum ot inpositum medetur,

item ex aceto. sic et iocineri decoctum . Diocles

difficile pari entibus semen e ius dedit acetabuli

mensura tritum in novem cyathis sapae ut tertias

parte s biberent , de in calida lav arentur, et in balineo

sudantibus dimidium ex relicto iterum dedit , max a.

balin eo relicum , pra summa auxilia . farinam feni

eum hordea aut lini semine deeoctam aqua mulsa

contra vulvae cruciatus obiecit idem inposuitque imo

ventri . lepras , lentigin es sulpuris pari portiamo

mi xta farinae curavit , nitro anto praeparata cute ,

saepius die inlinens perunguique prohibons . Theo

dorus fono miseuit quart am partem purgati nasturtu

acerrimo aceto ad lepras . Timon semen fen i

ace tabuli dimidiimensura cum sapao ot aquae novem

cyathis ad menses ciendas dedit potu , nec dubitatur

quin decoctum e ius utilissimum sit vulv is inter

ane isque exulceratis , sicut i semen articulis atque

praecordiis . si vero cum malva decoquatur postea

addi ta mulso, potus ante cetera vulvis interaneisque

1 3 0


laudatur, quippe cum vapor quoque decocti plurimumprosit , alarumque e tiam grav iolontiam de coctum feni 1emendat . farina porrigines capitis furfuresquo cum

vino e t nitro celeriter ta llit . in hydromelite autemde cocta addita axungia geni talibus medetur , item

pauc , parotidi , podagrae , chiragrae , art iculis carnibusque quae recedunt ab ossibus , ace to vero subacta

luxatis . inlinitur e t lioni de cocta in ace to et molle

tantum . carcinomata subacta ex v ino purgat , max

addita me llo persanat . sumitur et sorbitio ex farinaad pectus exulceratum langamque tussim . diu 2

deeoquitur dance amaritudo desinat , postea mel

additur . Nunc ipsa claritas herbarum dice tur .

1 HLc semen VEX M ay/tej”: (1 T Hard.

,Detlef sen.

3 Om. diu M ayhofl”

.

BOOK XXIV . cxx . 187—1 88

inte stines , se e ing that the steam also from the

decoction is of the highe st value ; a de coction of

fenugre ek , too , remove s off ensive sme lls of the arm

pits . The meal with wine and soda qu ickly remove sscurf and dandruff on the head . A decoction tao of

the meal in hydrome l , mixed with axle - grease , euroscomplaints of the gen itals , likewise superficial abseesses , parotid tumours , gouty affe ctions of fe e t or

hands , aff e ctions of the joints and the re ceding of

fle sh from the bone s ; but the mea l is kne aded in

vinegar for dislocations . A de coction of the mea l invinegar and honey only is used as a liniment forSplenic trouble . Kneaded in wine it cleanse s can

cerous soros ; if honey .is afterwards added a comple te

cure is e ffected . A grue l also of this meal is takenfor u lceration of the che st and for chronic cough . It

is boiled down far a long time until the bitternessdisappears ; afterwards honey is added . I shall nowproceed to the peculiar glory of plants .

1 3 3

LIBER XXV

I. Ipsa quae nunc dice tur herbarum claritas ,medicinae tantum gignente eas Te llure , in admira

t ionem curao priscarum di ligentiaeque animum

agit . nihi l ergo int emptatum inexpertumque illi s

fuit , nihil de inde occultatum quodque non prode sse

pasteris v ellent . at nos e laborata his abscondere ac

supprimere cupimus e t fraudare vitam e tiam alioni s

boni s . ita cert e recondunt qui pauca aliqua novero

invidente s al iis , e t neminem docere in auctoritatem

scientiae est . tantum ab exeogitandis novis ac

iuv anda vita more s absunt , summumque opus in

geniorum diu iam hoc fuit ut intra unumquemque

recto facta v eterum perirent . at , Hercu le s , singula

quosdam inventa deorum numero addidere , quorum 1

utique vitam clariarem fe cero cognominibus her

barum , tam benigne gratiam memoria re ferente .

non aeque haec cura eorum mira est 2 in his quae satublandiuntur aut cibo invitant , culmina quoquemontium inv ia e t solitudines abditas omnesque terrae

1quorum ego hominum Detlef sen cum PLntLano omnium

M ayhoff cum f ere oa bus codd .

2 mira est M ayhoff : mira , si Detlef sen, codd . : mira esset

vulg.

1 3 6

BOOK XXV

I. This peculiar glory of plants which I am now Of vlan

going to speak of , Mather Earth producing them SpZÎLaZZsome times for medicina l purpose s only , rouse s in f f."

one’s mind admiration for the care and industry c)c

the men of old; there w as nothing le ft untried or um

attempted by them , and furthermore nothing keptsecret , nothing which they wished to be of no benefitto posterity . But w e moderns de sire to hide and

suppre ss the discoveries w orked out by the se inv estigators , and to che at human life even of the goodthings that have be en w on by othe rs . Yes inde ed ,those w ho have gained a l ittle knowledge ke ep it ina grudging spirit secre t to themse lve s , and to te achnobody e lse increase s the pre stige of the ir learning . So far has custom departed from fre sh re searchand assistance to l ife ; the supreme task of our greatminds has lang be en to ke ep within individua lmemory the succe sse s of the ancients , so a l low ingthem to be forgotten . But , heaven knows , there are

some whom a single discovery has added to the

number of the gods , w hose l ife on earth at any ratohas be en made more glorious by the ir name s be inggiven to plants , sa kind the thanks of a mindfulposterity . This care ful re search of the irs is lesswonderfu l when rewarded by plants of fascinatinggrowth or attractive as food ; but they have secured

also trackless mountain he ights , unexplored de sertsand all the bowe ls of the earth , finding out the power


fibras scrutati inv ene re qu id quaeque radix pollerot ,ad quos usus herbarum fila pertinerent , e tiam qua

dripedum pabulo intacta ad salutis usus vertente s .

II. M inus hac quam par erat nostri ce lebrav ere

omnium utilitatium et v irtutum rapacissimi , primus

que et diu salus idem i l le M . Cato , omnium bonarum

artiummagister, paucis dumtaxat attigit , boum e tiam

medicina non omissa . post eum unus inlustrium

t emptav it Gaius Valgius eruditione spectatus imper

fecto v olumine ad divum Augustum, inchoata e tiam

prae fatione re ligiosa ut omn ibus ma l is humanis il lins

patissimum principis semper modere tur maiestas .

III. Ante a condiderat salus apud nas , quod equi

dem inv eniam,Pompeius Lenaeus M agni libertus ,

quo primum tempore hanc scientiam ad nostros

pervenisse animo adv erta . namque M ithridate s ,maximus sua ae tate regum quem debe llav it Pom

pe ius , omn ium ante se genitorum di ligentissimus

vitae fu isse argumentis prae t erquam fama intellegi

tur. uni ei excogitatum cotidie venenum bibere

praesumptis remediis ut consue tudine ipsa innaxium

fieret prima inventa genera antidoti ex quibus unum

e tiam nomen e ius rotine t ; illius inv entum sanguinem

anatum Ponticarum miscere antidotis , quoniam

Perhaps, biology. But see t a again in Q_S, 7 and 22 .

Prima dat . of the agent .

1 3 8


veneno v iv erent ; ad i l lum Asclepiadi s medendi arteclari volumina composita extant

, cum sollicitatus ex

urbe Roma praecepta pro se mitteret ; i l lum solummortalium certum e st XXII linguis locutum , nec e

subiect is gentibus ul lum hominem per interpretemappellatum ab eo annis LVI quibus regnav it . is ergoin re liqua ingenii magnitudine medicinae peculiarit er

curiosus e t ab omnibus subiectis , qui fuere magna parst errarum, singula exquirens scrinium comm entationum harum et exemplaria eflectusque in arcanis

su is re liquit , Pompe ius autem omni praoda regia

potitus transferre ea sermone nostro libertum suumLenaeum grammaticae artis iussit , v itaeque ita

profuit non minus quam re ipublieae victoria i lla .

IV . Praeter has Graeci auctore s prodidere quossuis locis diximus , ex his Crateuas , Dionysius ,M etrodorus ratione blandissima sed qua nihi l paenealiud quam di fficultas rei inte llegatur. pinxere

namque efligies herbarum atque ita subscripsere

e ffectus . verum e t pictura fa l lax est coloribus tam

numerosis , praesertim in aemulationem naturae ,

multumque degenerat transcribent ium fors varia .

1

prae tere a parum e st singulas e arum aetates pingi ,cum quadripert itis v arietatibus anni faciem mutent .

1 fare v aria codd. , Detlef sen : socordia Mayhofi sollertia

C. F . W. Muller.

Mayhoff’

s socordLa would giv e owing to the carelessness of the copyist s Muller’s sollertLa owing to the (misplaced, ill - t imed ) ingenuity of the copyists .

”But surely the

reading of the MSS . giv es a good senso, and accords perfectlywith Pliny’

s journalese style of writing.

140

BOOK XXV . 111. 6- 1v . 8

they lived an poison addre ssed to him were treatise s ,still e xtant , written by the famous physician Asclepiade s , w ho when urgently invited to come from Rome

sent instructions inste ad M ithridate s alone ofmen isdefinite ly known to have spoken twenty - tw o language s , and na man of his subj ect people s w as everaddre ssed by him through an interpreter duringall the fifty

- six years of his re ign . He then , withhis bril liant inte llect and wide intere sts , w as an

e spe cially diligent student of medicine ,and col

lected detailed knowledge from all his subj e cts , w hocomprised a great part of the world , leaving amonghis private posse ssions a bookcase of the se tre atise swith spe cimens and the propertie s of each . Pompe ius

however on getting posse ssion of all the roya l bootyordered his freedman Lenaeus , a man of le tters , totranslate the se into Latin . This great victorythere fore w as as beneficent to l ife as it w as to the

State .

IV. Be side s the se the subj ect has be en treatedby Gre ek writers , whom w e have mentioned in the irproper place s ; of the se , Crateuas , Dionysius and

M e trodorus adopted a most attractive me thod ,though one which make s clear little e lse e xcept thedifliculty of employing it . For they painted likene sse s of the plants and then wrote under themthe ir propertie s . But not on ly is a p icture misleading when the colours are so many , particularlyas the aim is to copy Nature , but be side s this , muchimperfection arise s from the manifold hazards in theaccuracy of copyists . In addition , it is not enoughfor each plant to be painted at one period on ly of

its l ife , since it alters its appearance with the

fourfold change s of the year.

Greekw riters

tt subj

9

10

11


V . Quare ce t eri sermone eas tradidere , aliqui ne

e ffigie qu idem indicata et nudis plerumque nominibusde functi , quon iam satis v idebatur patostatos v imque

demonstrare quaerere volentibus . nec est difficilis

cognitio nobis certe , exceptis admodum paucis,

cont igit re liquas cont emplari scientia Antoni Castaris ,cui summa auctoritas erat in ea arte nostro aevo ,

v isendo bartula e ius in qua plurimas alebat conte simum annum ae tatis excedens , nul lum corporis malumexpertus , ac ne aetate quidem memoria aut vigoreconcussis . neque a l iud mirata magis antiquitas

reperietur. inventa iampridem ratio e st praenun

tians horas , non modo die s ac noctes, solis lunaequede fectuum. durat tamen tradita persuasio in magnaparte vulgi v eneficiis e t horbis id cogi eamque unam

feminarum scient iam prae v alere . certe quid non

replev erunt fabulis Colchis M edea aliaeque , in primisItala Circe dis e tiam adscripta

? unde arbitrarmatum ut Ae schylus e v e tust issimis in poetica re

fertam Italiam herbarum potentia proderet , multique

Circeios , ubi habitav it i l la , magno argumento etiamnunc durante in M arsis

,a filia e ius orta gente , quoniam

e sse domitores serpentium constat . Homerus qui

I think that there is some reason for the diminutiv obartula. It can hardly mean in the context little garden ,

”

but seems to suggest that the barta lus w as Castor’

s fav ouritehobby affect ionate diminutiv o

It is generally supposed that Pliny is re ferring to the

pentameter quoted by Theophrastus H .P . IX 15 , 1 Tvppnvò v

yevea'

v , giapp.axorrouiv è'

9vos . In this passage Theophrastus

mentions bath Circe and Helen, as well as the wealth of Egypt

in drugs.

1 4 2


dem primus doetrinarum et antiquitatis parens ,multus a lias in admirat ione Circae , gloriam herbarumA egypto tribuit , cum e tiam tum quae rigatur

1

A egyptus i lla non e sse t , postea fluminis lima invecta .

herbas certe A egyptias a regis uxore traditas He lenaesuae plurimas marrat ac nobile i llud nepenthesoblivionem tristitiae v eniamque adferens et ab

He lena utique omn ibus mortalibus propinandum .

primus autem omnium quos memoria novit Orpheusde horbis curiosius aliqua prodidi t , post eum Musaeuse t He siodus pol ium herbam in quantum mirati sintdiximus , Orpheus e t He siodus suffitiones common

davero. Homerus e t a lias nominatim herbas ce lebrat , quas su is locis dicemus . ab eo Pythagorasclarus sapientia primus volumen de e ffectu earumcomposuit , Apollini , A e scu lapia e t in totum dis

immortalibus inv entione e t origine adsignata ; com

posuit e t Democritus , ambo peragratis Porsidis ,Arabiae , A ethiopiae , A egypti M agis , adeoque ad

hae c atton ita antiquitas fuit ut adfirmav erit e tiamincredibilia dictu . Xanthus historiarum auctor in

prima carum tradit oecisum draconis catulum re

v ocatum ad vitam a parente herba quam bal imnominat , eademque Tylonem quem draco occiderat

rest itutum sa luti . e t Iuba in Arabia herba revocatum ad vitam hominem tradit . dixit Democritus ,credidit Theophrastus e sse herbam cuius contactu

1 tum quae rigatur codd. et M ayhofi‘

nunc quae dicatur

coni . Detlef sen .

See Odyssey, IV. 2 19—2 3 4 .

Veuiam is translated by Littre et de leur cause, byBostock and Ril ey farget fulness of the past .

”

See XXI. 5544 and 145 .

Relying an these books .

144

BOOK XXV. v . 1 1—14

of ancient learning , while expre ssing in severa lpassage s gre at admiration for Circe , give s the prizefor herbs to Egypt , even though at that time the

irrigated Egypt of today did not yet exist , for it w as

formed afterwards by the a lluvial mud of the river.

A t any rate ho says that Egyptian herbs in gre atnumber were given by the wife of the king to the

He len of his tale , including that ce lebratednepenthe s , which brought forge tfulne ss and remissionof sorrow ,

“ to be administered e special ly by He len to

a ll mortals . But the first of all those known to tra

dition to publish anything about botany care ful ly w as

Orpheus ; after him M usaeus and He siod , as w e havesa id ,“ expressed great admiration for the plant cal ledpol ium ; Orpheus and He siod recommended fumigations . Homer mentions by name other plants a lso ,which I shal l spe ak of in the ir appropriate place s .

A fter him the ce lebrated philosopher Pythagorasw as the first to compose a back on the properties ofplants , assigning the ir original discovery to Apol lo ,

Ae sculapius and the immorta l gods general ly ;Democritus a lso composed a simi lar work . Both of

them visited the M agi of Pe rsia , Arabia , Ethiopiaand Egypt , and so amazed were the ancients at thesebooks that they positive ly asserted even unbe lievablestatements . Xanthus , w ho wrote books on history ,re late s in the first of them that a young snake ,which had been ki lled , w as re stored to l ife by hisfather , w ho used a plant cal led by Xanthus ba lis , andthat the same plant brought back to life one Tylo ,

whom the snake had killed . Jnba too records thata man in Arabia w as re stored to l ife by meansof a plant . Democritus said , and Theophrastusbe lieved him , that there w as a plant which , carried by

145


inlatae ab a lite quam 1retulimus exiliret cuneus a

pastoribus arbori adactus. quae e t iamsi fide carent ,

admirationem tamen implent coguntque confiteri

multum e sse veri 2 quod supersit . inde et plerosque

ita video existimare nihi l non herbarum vi e ffici posse ,sed plurimarum vire s e sse incogn itas , quorum in

numero fuit Herophilus clarus medicina , a quo feruntdictum quasdam fortassis e tiam calcatas prodesse .

observ atum certe est infl ammari 3 vulnera ac morbossuperv entu eorum qui pedibus iter con fecerint .

VI. Haec erat antiquamedicina quae totamigrabatin Graeciae linguas . sed quare non plures noscantur

causa e st quod e as agre ste s litterarumque ignariexperiuntur , ut qui sol i inter i llas v ivant , praet ereasecuritas quaerendi obvia

4 medicorum turba . multise t iam inv entis desunt nomina , sicut i lli quam retu

limus in frugum cura scimusque de fossam in angul isseget is praestare ne qua ales intret . turpissima

1quam vu lg. , M ayhofi : qua Detlef sen : forta sse de qua .

2v eri quod ego : quod v ero codd. et edd .

inflammari : codd. et add. : v el sanari com'

. lll ayhofiiam sanari vel minus infiammari com

'

. Warmington .

obvia Mayhoff obv ia in Detlef sen obv iam V.

See X. 540 .

It has been observ ed (e .g. by Mayhofl ,w ho says contra

argumenti rationem, ut videtur ) that this sentence does not fit

in with its context . Af ter prodesse a sentence is expected to

the e ff ect that a pat ient has become better af ter treading on a

certa in plant (or plants) . Instead of this w e get a statement

that a pat ient has grown worse on the arriv al of visitors w ho

hav e trav ell ed on foot . As it may be just another example ofPliny’

s slipshod w ay of reasoning, the sentence has been lef tas it is in the MSS . , but there is much to be said for Mayhoiî

’

s

ev en cured . What perhaps Pliny ought to hav e said isminus inflammam

'

superventu vulnera on arriv al the woundsor il lnesses are better of those w ho hav e made a journey on

146


causa raritatis quod e tiam qui soiunt demonstrare

nolunt , tamquam ipsis periturum sit quod tradiderint ali is . accedit ratio inv ent ionis anceps , quippee tiam in repert is al ias inven it casus , al ias , ut veredixerim, deus . insanabile ad hosce annos fuit rabidicanis morsus pav orem aquae potusque omn is ad

ferens odium . nuper cuiusdam militantis in praetorio mater vidit in qu ie te ut radicem silv estris rosae

quam cynorrhodon vocant blandi tam sibi aspectu

pridie in frutecto mitteret filio bibendam . in Lacetan ia 1 res gerebatur , Hispaniae proxima parte , casu

que accidit ut mi l ite a morsu canis incipiente

pav escere aquas superv eniret epistula orantis ut

pareret re ligioni , serv atusque est ex insperato e t

postea quisquis auxil ium simi le t emptav it . a l iasapud auctores cynorrhodi una medicina erat spon

gi olae , quae in mediis spinis e ius nascitur, cinere cum

me l le alopecias capitis expleri. in eadem provinciacognov i in agro hospitis nuper ibi repertum dracunculum appe llatum caulem pollicari crassitudine , versicoloribus 2 v iperarum macul is , quem ferebant contraomn ium morsus e sse remedio , al ium quam quos inpriore volumine e iusdem nominis diximus , sed huic

1 Lacetania a liquot codd Detlef sen Laeetania Hubner,]]Iayhojf .

2v ersicoloribus] a v ersicoloribus unus cod. (N) a v ersico

loribus v iperarum maculis post appellatum panem velit

Mayhoj'

f .

This is taking mitteret to be the v erb of a dependent

question . It might be jussiv e how she w as to send.

”

The ga ll call ed robin ’

s pinv cushion .

”

See XXIV. 5 143 .

BOOK XXV . VI. 16—18

disgrace ful reason for this scanty knowledge is thateven those w ho posse ss it re fuse to teach it , j ust asthough they would themse lve s lose what they haveimparted to others . To this must be added thatthere is no sure me thod of discovery ; for even of

those w e already know chance has some time s be en thefinder ; at other time s , to spe ak the truth , the discove rer w as a god . Down to recent years the re hasbeen no cure for the bite of a mad dog , a symptom of

which is dread of water and ave rsion to drink of anykind . Recently the mother of a man serving in the

praetorian guard saw in a dream how she sent to

her son to be taken in drink the root of the wild rose ,

ca l led cynorrhodon , which by its appe arance had Cyggì

rr

attracted her the day be fore in a shrubbery . Ope rations were going on in Lacetania , the part of Spainneare st to Italy , and by chance it happened that thesoldier, after be ing bitten by a dog , w as beginning toshow a horror of w ater , when a lette r arrived from the

mother , w ho begged him to obey the heavenlywarning . So his life w as unexpe ctedly saved , as

w as that of all w ho afterwards tried a similar remedy .

Elsewhere among our authoritie s the only medicina luse of cynorrhodon to be found is that the ash of

the spongy substance that forms in the middle of itsthorns w as mixed with honey to make hair grow on

the he ad where mange had le ft it bare . In the

same province , on the land of my host, I le arnedof a recent discovery there , a stalk cal led dra Dracun

cunculus , of the thickne ss of a thumb , with spotsof many colours l ike those of a viper , which peoplesaid w as a remedy for the bite s of all creature s , a different plant from those I have cal led dracunculusin the preceding ° book . This one has a different

149


alia figura , a liud miraculum exerenti se terra ad

primas serpentium v e rnationes bipedali fere altitudine , rursusque cum isdem in t erram condenti , necomnino occu ltato eo apparet serpens , v e l hoc per

se satis officioso naturae munere , si tantum praemonere t t empusque formidinis demonstraret .

Nec best iarum solum ad nocendum sce lera sunt ,sed interim aquarum quoque ac locorum. In

Germania trans Rhenum castris a German ico Cae sarepromot is maritimo tractu fons erat aquae dulcis solus ,qua pota intra bienn ium dente s deciderent com

pagesque in genibus solv erentur . stomacacen medicivocabant e t sce lotyrben ea mala . reperta auxil io est

herba quae appe llatur britannica , non nerv is modoet oris mal is sa lutaris , sed contra anginas quoque e t

contra serpente s . fol ia habe t oblonga nigra , radicemn igram . sucus e ius exprimitur e t e radice . fioremv ibones v ocant , qui collectus prius quam tonitrum

audiatur e t de voratus securos in totum annum a me tuanginae praestat . Frisi gens tum fida , in qua castraerant , monstrav ere illam , mirorque nomini s causam,

n isi forte confines oceano Britanniae v e luti propinquae 1 dicav ere . non en im inde appe llatam, quoniamibi plurima nascere tur , certum est e tiamtum Britannia l ibera .

1v eluti propinquae cum multis codd. et vulg. M ayhofi

v elut e propinquo Detlef sen , qui Urlichs sequitur.

A Greek word, meaning scurvy of the gums.

Another Greek word, 0 K6À0 7'15p817, meaning di sorder or

paralysis of the legs .

Possibly , oblong.

d Or : bordering on the ocean , they dedi cated the plant toBritain , as it were to a ne ighbour . I once took Brita nnia eto be the subject , hav ing in agreement with it both

1 50


VII. Fuit quidem et hic quondam ambitus nominibus suis e as adoptandi, ut docebimus fecisse reges .

tanta re s v idebatur herbam inven ire , vitam iuv are ,

nunc fortassis aliquis curam hanc nostram frivolam

quoque existimaturis ; adeo de liciis sordent e tiamquae ad salut em pertinent . auctore s tamen quarum

inv eniuntur in primis ce lebrari par est e ff ectu e arum

dige sto in genera morborum. qua quidem in reputatione misereri sortis humanae subit , prae ter fortu itacas usque e t quae nova omnis hora excogitat , miliamorborum singulis mortalium t imenda . qui gravissimi ex his sint discernere stultitiae prope videri

possit , cum suus cuique ac praesens quisque atrocissimus videatur . e t de hoc tamen iudicav ere aev i

e xperimenta , asperrimi cruciatus e sse calculorum a

stil l icidio ve sicae , proximum stomachi , tertiumeorum quae in capite dole ant , non ob alios fere morteconscita .

A Graecis e t noxias herbas demons tratas miror

equidem , nec v enenorum tantum , quoni am e a con

ditio vitae est ut mori plerumque e tiam optimisportus sit , tradatque M . Varro Serv ium Clodium

eqù item Romanum magnitudine doloris in podagracoactum veneno crura perunxisse et postea caruisse

A common phrase in Pliny is nomine adoptara, to giv e a

name to a thing.

See gg70 foll . of this Book.

BOOK XXV . vn . 2 2—2 4

VII. It w as one of the ambitions of the past to Plantsa b named rgive one s name to a plant , as w e shall pomt out

persons.

w as done by kings . It w as thought a great honourto discover a plant and be of assistance to human l ife ,

although now perhaps some will think that the sere searche s of mine are just idle trifiing . So paltryin the eye s of Luxury are even the things that conduce to our hea lth . It i s but right , however ,to mention in the first place the plants whosediscove rers can be found , with the ir prope rtie sclassified according to the kinds of disease for

which they are a remedy . To refle ct inde ed on thismake s one pity the lot of man ; beside s chance s andchange s and the strange happenings that everyhour brings , there are thousands of dise ase s thatevery morta l has to dre ad . To distinguish whichare the most grievous of them might be considereda lmost an act of fol ly , since e very man considers thatthe particular disease from which he is suffering at The ma

the moment is the most awful . On this point , È?Éfafsîls

however, the experience of time has concludedthat the disease causing the sharpe st agony isstrangury from stone in the bladder ; next come sdisease of the stomach , and after that pains produced by disease s of the head; the se be ing about theonly dise ase s that are re sponsible for suicides .I myse lf am amazed that the Gre eks have de

scribed even harmful p lants , and not the poisonousones only , since the state of human l ife is such thatde ath is frequently a harbour of re fuge even for themost exce l lent of men , M arcus Varro re lating that theRoman kn ight Servius Clodius , owing to the severepain of gout , w as forced to rub his legs all over witha poison , after which that part of his body w as as free

153


sensu omn i aeque quam dolore in ea parte corporis .

sed quae fuit venia monstrandi qua mente s solverentur, partus e liderentur, multaque similia ? ego nec

abortiva dico ac ne amatoria quidem , memor Lucul

lum imperatorem clarissimum amatorio perisse , necal ia magica portenta , n isi ubi cav enda sunt aut

coarguenda , in prim is fide eorum damnata . satisoperae fuerit abundeque praestatum, vitae salutaresdixisse 1

ac pro ea inventas .

VIII. Clarissima herbarum est Homero te ste quamv ocari a dis putat moly e t inv entionem e ius M ercurioadsignat contraque summa v eneficia demonstrat ionem. nasci e am hodie circa Pheneum e t in

Cyllen e Arcadiae tradunt specie i l la Homerica , radicerotunda nigraque , magnitudine cepae , folio scillae ,

e ffodi autem baud 2 difficulter . Graeci auctore sfiorem e ius luteum pinxere , cum Homerus candidumscripserit . inv eni e peritis herbarummedi cis qui et inItal ia nasci e am diceret , adferrique e Campania mihi 3

aliquot diebus ( posse 4) e ffossam inter di fficultates

1 dixisse] hic la cunam indica t Ianus , quem sequitur M ayhoffexcidisse videntur a dis priscisv e non pro ea sed postea

codd.

2autem baud ego : baud S illig : autem Detlef sen : autem

non (i .e . autè fi ) ]ll ayhoff . Cf . Theophrasti H . P . IX , 15, 5 7ov puny opv

'

r rew e fva z xaÀen ov .

3 mihi codd. : memini Janus , Detlefsen : autumni M ayhoff .

“posse ego addidi.

The negativ e is added because of the words of Theo

phrastus giv en in the critical note . Homer’

s description is( I v

pi {;g p.ev y eÀa v eoxe , yaÀaxn 3 6 euceÀov a v90 3 °

A I I I I

p.w Àv 86 mv KaÀeova i 96 0 L. xaz\enov 86 7 opvaaew

dv3pcîoc ye 9vnroîa v 960 ì Be'

7 6 n a'

. v7 a iaaow .

Odyssey X 3 04- 3 06.

The difficulties of this sentence seem to me to be lessened,

but not fully solv ed, by emendingmihi tomemini or autumni .

IS4


saxeas radicis xxx pede s longae ac ne sic quidemsolidae , sed abruptae .

IX. Ab ea maxima auctoritas herbae est quamdode catheon vocant omnium deorum maiestatem

comm endantes . in aqua potam omnibus morbis

mederi tradunt . folia e ius septem lactucis simillima

exeunt a lutea radice .

X . Ve tust issima inv entu paeonia est , nomenque

auctoris retinet , quam quidam pentorobon appe l lant ,ali i glycysidem . nam haec quoque di fficultas e st

quod eadem aliter a l ibi nuncupatur . nascitur opacis

montibus caule inter fol ia digitorum quat tuor ferentein cacumine v e lut i Graecas nuces quattuor aut

quinque . inest his semen copiosum , rubrum ni

grumque . hae c medetur et Faunorum in qu ieteludibriis . praecipiunt eruere noctu , quon iam si picusM artius v ideat tuendo 1 in oculos impetum faciat .

XI. Panaces ipso nomine omn ium morborum

remedia promi ttit , numerosum e t dis inv entoribusadscriptum . unum quippe asclepion cognominatur,a quo is filiam Panaciam appe llav it . suons est

coactus ferulae qualem diximus , radice multi cortioise t sal si . hac ev olsa scrobem repleri vario generefrugum re ligi o est ac terrae piamentum . ubi et

quonam fieret modo ac quale maxim e probare tur

1 tuendo codd . , M ayhofi : v olando coni . S illig : erneutem

Detlef sen . M ayhofi etiam coni . vel ad tuendum (tuendù ) velinterdiu .

Mayhoif’

s ma ies tate would giv e inv esting it with thegrandeur ete .

”Dodeca theon means plant of the twelv e

(greater) gods .

volando will mean by flying at them eruentem, the

person uproot ing it .

”

See XII . 127.

BOOK XXV . vm . 2 7—x1. 3 1

thirty fe et long , and even that not entire , but brokenoff short .IX. After moly the plant with the highe st repu

tation they cal l the dode catheon , as a compliment tothe grandeur “

of all the twe lve gods . It 1s said thattaken in water it cure s all diseases . Its leave s areseven , very like those of le ttuce and sprouting froma ye l low root .X . The first plant to be discovered w as the peony , The pe

which sti l l retains the name of the discoverer ; it isca l led by some pentorobon , by others glycyside , foran added difficu lty in botany is the variety of name sgiven to the same plant in different districts . It

grows on shaded mountains , having a stem amongthe leave s about four fingers high , which bears on

its top four or fiv e growths like a lmonds , in

them be ing a large amount of seed , red and black.

This plant also prevents the mocking de lusionsthat the Fauns bring on us in our sleep . Theyre commend us to uproot it at night—time , becausethe woodpecker of M ars , should he see the act , wil lattack the eye s in its de fence !’

XI. The plant panaces by its very name promises Panaceto be a cure for every dise ase ; it has many varietie s ,and to the gods have been ascribed the discovery of

its propertie s . One varie ty in fact has the additionalname of asclepion , after which Asclepius cal led hisdaughter Panacia . The juice of this plant whencurdled is l ike that , already de scribed ,° of fenne lgiant , coming from a root with a thick and saltyskin . When it has been pulled up it is a pious dutyto fil l in the hole with various ce re als as an atonement to the earth . Where the juice is prepared , andhow , and the most e steemed kind , I have already

1 57


inter peregrina docuimus . id quod e Macedonia

adfertur bucolicon v ocant armentariis sponte crum

pentem sucum excipientibus ; hoc celerrime

e v anescit . e t in a li is autem generibus inprobatur

maxime nigrum ac mol le . id enim argumento est

cera adulterati .

XII. Alterum genus heracleon v ocant et ab

Hercu le inv entum tradunt , al ii origanum heracleo

ticum aut silvestre , quoniam est origano simile ,

radice inutil i ; de quo origano diximus .

1

XIII. Tertium panaces chironium cognominatur

ab inventore . fol ium e ius simi le lapatho , maius

tamen et hirsutius , flos aureus , radix parva . nascitur

pinguibus locis . huius flos e fficacissimus, eoque

amplius quam supra dieta prodest .

XIV. Quartum genus ,2 panaces ab eodem Chirone

repertum centaurion cognominatur, sed et pharna

ceou in controversia inv entionis a Pharnace rege

deductum . seritur hoc , longioribus quam cetera

foliis et serratis . radix odorata in umbra siccatur

1 simile de quo diximus , radice inutili . coni . Warmington .

genus] in uncis ponit M ayhoff servat Brahman .

See the whole of XII. 127 , 128 , especially the latterpart of 5127 semine musca riis dependente ut f erula e. excipi

tur sucus inciso caule messibus, radice autumno. laudatur


vinoque gratiam adi cit . e ius genera duo fecere a liaaliqui , alterum lato folio, alterum tenui .1

XV . Heracleon siderion et ipsum ab Hercule inv entum est , caule tenui digitorum quattuor altitu

dine , flore puniceo , foliis coriandri. iuxta lacus et

amnes inv enitur omniaque vulnera ferro inlata

e fficacissime sanat .

XVI. Est Chironis inv entum ampe los quae v ocatur

chironia , de qua diximus inter vi tes , sicuti de herbacuius inventio adsignatur M inerv ae .

XVII. Herculi eam quoque adscribunt quae apollinaris apud a lios , apud nos

2alt ercum ,

3apud Graecos

vero hyoscyamos appellatur. plura e ius generaunum migro semine floribus paeme purpure is , spinoso

eius genera duo fecere alia aliqui , alterum lato folio,

alterum tenui ego : eius genera duo fecere aliqui , levis folii,alterum t-ennius Detlef sen alia e ius genera etc . M ayhofi aliaomittunt codd .

,in quibus non eius sed huius scriptum es t.

Sunt a liae lectiones , sed pan i momenti . Cf . «ì'

AÀa Bè w a vdxv;‘rò p.èv Àew r o

'

gtvÀÀov 7 6 Sè 0 5. TheopÌ n‘

. H .P . IX. 11 , 4 .

2apud alios , apud nos Urlichs : aut Mayîwfi : apud aut

aput codd. del. Detlef sen.

3 H ic (ante a lte rcum) a rabul is Urlichs : ab alis Detlef sena rabie aliis M ayhojf arabilis aut arbilis aut arabas codd

ego delevi : apud Arabas altercum siv e altercangenum 1)n .

The corresponding passage in Theophrastus implies a

reference to tw o other sorts of panaces ; the ordinary text

of Pliny refers to tw o sorts of this kind, that is, of cen

taurion . Either Pliny has muddl ed once more , or his text

mus t be emended. I hav e adopted the second alte rnat iv e ,thinking w ith Mayhofi that alia has dropped out , although160

BOOK XXV . x1v . 3 3—xv 11. 3 5

shade , and adds a pleasing taste to w ine . Some

hold that there are tw o other kinds of panaces ,one with a broad , the other with a Slender, leaf .“

XV . Heracleon siderion ironwort is yet another Heracle

discovery of Hercules . It has a slender stem aboutfour fingers high , a flower of a de ep red and leavesl ike those of coriander. It is found near ponds andrivers , and he als very thoroughly all wounds inflictedby iron .

“

XVI. A discovery of Chiron’

s w as the .vine cal ledchironia , which I have mentioned in my section on

the vine s ; ° I have a lso mentioned a plant , thediscovery of which is attributed to M inerva .

“

XVII. To Hercule s too they ascribe the plantwhich is ca l led apol l inaris by some , alt ercum by us

Romans ,“ but by the Greeks hyoscyamos (“ pig

’

sbean There are several kinds of it : one has

black seed , with flowers that are a lmost purple , and a

I would insert it before a liqui and not af ter adicit, and agree

w ith Det lefsen that kuius should be changed to eius orpanacis .

My other emendat ions are based on folio, the reading of the

MSS . V and B ,and on the Àew réd>vMov of Theophrastus .

Hence the name siderion, deriv ed from the Greek ac'

8qp0 9 ,non .

See XXIII. 27 .

See XXII. 43 .

I hav e adopted here the emendation of Urlichs , omitting,howev er, his a rabulis . Pseudo-Dioscorides, IV. RV 68 (Well

mann ) , has twenty names for hyoscyamos , including’

Anoz\z\w oîn and Zvadva . A copyist or commentator might betempted to add a few of these , and perhaps the vulgate textarose in this w ay . To see in the corrupt arabilis or arbilis of

three MSS . a reference to the madness supposed to be causedby hyoscyamos is natural ; hence the a rabie of Mayhoff . But

the v ariations in the MSS . hav e the appearance of corrupt

glosses . The curious a rabulis of Urlichs supposes a connectionbetween altercam and altercor.

VOL. VII.

siderio1

Apalli7.


calyce 1nascitur in Ga lat ia . vulgare autem candi

dius est et fruticosius , a ltius papav ere . tertii semen

irioni s semini simi le , sed omnia insaniam gignentia

capitisque vertigine s . quartum genus mol le , lanu

ginosum , pinguins ceteri s , candidi seminis , in maritimis nascens . hoc re cepere medici , item rufi

seminis . nonnumquam autem candidum rufescit , sinon ematuruit , inprobaturque , e t alioqui nullum nisicum inaruit legitur . natura vini ideoque mentemcaputque infestans . usus seminis et per se et sucoexpre sso . exprimitur separatim et caulibus foliis

que . utuntur e t radice , temeraria in totum , ut arbitror , medicina . quippe e tiam foliis constat mentemcorrumpi , si plura quam quattuor bibant ; bibebant

2

et iam antiqui in vi no febrim depe lli arbitrantes .

oleum fit ex semine , ut diximus , quod ipsum auribus

infusum t emptat mentem, mireque ut contra venenum remedia prodidere iis qui id bibissent et ipsum

pro remediis , adeo nul lo omnia experiendi fine ut

cogerent3etiam v enena prodesse .

1spinoso calyce ego spinosum calice M ayhofi spinosum

— talis etc. Detlef sen spinosum talis aut tale codd.

2 bibebant ego addidi : lacunam indicai l anus, quem

sequitur M ayhofl'

, qui tot bibi iubebant supplere mal it. Brak

man quoque (M nemosyne 193 0) bibebant coni.3cogerent l anus : cogant M ayhofi : cogerentur vulg

cogeret codd.

Mayhofi’

s emendation w as suggested by DioscoridesIV . 68 ci pèv yàp qSe

'

pec 7 0 159 Kv'r ivovs oxÀwypoòs xa ì

cixa v6a'

18a s . I hav e , howev er, slightly altered the emenda tionand the construction .

In pseudo- Dioscorides ivodva is giv en as the Roman

name for hyoscyamos . This is the reason w hy I am doubtfulabout the text of 3 5 in initio.

Etiam even though it is so dangerous.


XVIII. Linoz ostis sive parthenion M ercurii inv en

tum est . ideo apud Graecos Hermu poan multivocant eam, apud nos omnes mercurialem . duo e iusgenera : masculus e t femina , quae e fficacior. caulee st 1 cubital i , interdum ramoso in cacumine , ocimo

angustioribus foliis, geniculis densis , alarum cavis

multis , semine in geniculis dependente feminae

copioso, mari iuxta genicula stante rariore ac brevicontortoque , feminae soluto e t candido . foliamaribus nigriora , feminis candidiora , radix supervacua , praet enuis . nascuntur in campestribus cultis .

mirumque est quod de utroque eorum genere proditur : ut mare s gignantur hunc facere , ut feminaeillam . hoc contingere , si a conceptu protinus bibatur

suons in passo edanturv e folia decocta ex oleo et sale ,v e l cruda ex aceto. quidam decocunt e am in novofictili cum heliotropio e t duabus v e l tribus spicis ,

donec cogatur . decoctum dari iubent et herbam

ipsam in cibo altero die purgationis mulieribus pertriduum , quarto die a balineo coire eas . H ippocratesmin

'

s laudibus in mulierum usum praedicav it has ;

1est Detlef sen : et unus cod. et M ayhofi

'

, qui al iter dist. et

lacunam post genicul is indicat. Ego Detlefsen sequor. Des zmi3 8—4 1 in codd . VRdT .

Dioscorides has (IV . Éxa Sè còxip.gu

npos r ò 7 fig éÀéimg, eÀa -

r'rov O land a di ) / a var a , pa axa

'

xl c19n 0À/la

'

s, 7rvxvàs exov7 a r av xapn òv 7) p.èv 9nÀeca Borpv oa dfiKa l. w oÀv v 17 appnv npòs r ois p.t 0 u, orpoyyv

'

Àov,

man ep opxi5ca. KGTÒ. 5u'

o npcoxeiy eva . This is so unlike the

Pliny passage in details , although parts are v ery similar

(part icularly densis, a larum ca vi s multis and paaxaîÀas noÀÀds,

164

BOOK XXV . xv111 . 3 8—40

XVIII. Linoz ostis or parthenion w as discovered Linozo

by M ercury , and so many among the Gre eks cal lit Hermes ’ grass but all w e Romans agre ein call ing it mercurial is . There are tw o kindsof it , the male and the female , the latter havingthe more powerful propertie s . It has a stem whichis a cubit high and some times branchy at the top,

leave s narrower than those of ocimum, joints closetogether and many hollow axils . The se ed of the

female hangs down in gre at quantity at the joints ;while that of the male stands up near the joints ,le ss plentiful , short and twisted ; the female seed isloose and white .

“ The leave s of the ma le plant aredarker, those of the fema le lighter ; the root is quiteuse le ss and very slender. It grows in flat , cultivatedcountry . A remarkable thing is re corded of bothkinds : that the male plant cause s the generation of

males and the fema le plant the generation of female s .This is e ff ected if immediate ly after conce iving the

woman drinks the jui ce rai sin w ine , or eats theleave s decocted in oil and salt , or raw in vinegar.

Some again de coct it in a new earthen ve sse l withhe l iotrop ium and tw o or thre e ears of corn until thecontents become thick . They recommend the de

coction to be given to women in food , with the

plant itse lf , on the second day of menstruationfor three succe ssive days ; on the fourth dayafter a bath intercourse is to take place . Hippocrate s has be stowed very high praise on the seplants for the disease s of women ; no medical man

that I hesitate to emend Pliny so as to harmoniz ehis account with Dioscorides .

See Littré ’s v ol . X . pp. 690 , 691 for references to the

herb mercury in the Hippocratic Corpus .


ad 1 hunc modum medicorum nemo novit . il le eas

volvae cum me lle v el rosaceo v el irino v e l lilino

admov it , item ad ciendos menses secundasque . idem

praestare potu fotuque dixit . instillav it auribus

olidis 2 sucum . suco 3 inunxit cum vino ve terealvum .

4 folia inposuit epiphoris . stranguriae et v e

sicis decoctum e ius dedit cum murra et ture . alvoquidem solv endae v e l in fehri decoquatur

5 quantummanus capiat in duobus sextariis aquae ad dimidias .

bibitur sale e t me l le admixto nec non cum ungulasuis aut gal linaceo decocta 6 salubrius . purgationis

causa putav ere aliqui utramque dandam per se sive 7

cum malva decoctam .

8 thoracem purgant , bilemdetrahunt , sed stomachum laedunt . re liquos ususdicemus suis locis .

1ad E cod. a , vulg. , Detlef sen at vet. Dai. , Mayhofl .

olidis Gelen . , Detlef sen, Mayhojf solidis E a : surdis

lg.

sucum. succ ego : suco duo codd.,Detlef sen : sucum

vulg. , M ayhoff .alvum (alv ù ) ego a lv o aut albo codd.

5 decoquatur E a , vulg. , Detlef sen : deeoquitur Basileensis

editio, M ayhoff.decocta vet. Dai. , S illig, M ayhofl

'

decoctae E decoctumvulg. mixtum cod. a ,

Detlefsen.

per se siv e vet. Da l. siv e codd . , vulg . , edd. z in cibo con i.

decoctam vet. Da l. , Mayhoff decocta a, Detlef sen

decoctum E vulg.

With the reading at : but no medi cal man recognises

now this method of treatment .

”

166


XIX. Invenit 1 e t Achil le s discipulus Chironis quavolneribus mederetur . quae ob id achilleos vocatur .

hac sanasse Te lephum dicitur. al ii primum aeru

ginem inv eni sse utilissimam emplastris , ideoque

pingitur ex cuspide decutiens eam gladio in volnus

Te lephi, a li i utroque usum medicamento volunt .

aliqui et hanc panacem Heracliam , alii sideriten e t

apud nos mille foliam vocant , cubital i scapo , ramosam,

minutioribus quam feniculi foliis v estitam ab imo .

al ii fat entur quidem illam vulneribus utilem , sed

v eram achilleon e sse scapo caeruleo pedali , sineramis , ex omni parte singulis foliis rotundis e leganterv e stitam ; al ii quadrato caule , capitulis marrubii ,

foliis quercus , hac e tiam praecisos nervos glutinari.2

faciunt alii et 3 sideritim in maceriis nascent em, cum

t eratur , foedi odoris , e tiamnum a l iam sinfi lem huicsed candidioribus foliis et pinguioribus, t eneriorem

cauliculis , in v ineis nascentem ; a liam 4 vero binumcubitorum , ramulis exilibus , triangulis , fol io filicis ,

pediculo longo, be tae semine ; omnes volneribus

praecipuas . nostri eam quae e st latissimo fol ioscopas regias v ocant . mede tur angini s suum.

XX . Invenit e t Teucer e adem aetate t eucrion ,

quam quidam hemionion vocant , spargentem iuncos

1 inv enit vulg. , Detlef sen : inv enisse coni. M ayhofi , qui et

ac non hac postea scribit et quae v ocatur in parenthes i

ponit.

glutinari Urlichs , Detlef sen, M ayhofi , qui et glutinant coniglutinare codd.

3alii et M ayhofl

'

: et Detlefsen cumVR d a lia (ali et E

alii vulg.

aliam vulg Detlef sen aliqui M ayhofl'

alioqui aut

alioque codd .

168

BOOK XXV . x1x . 4 2—xx . 45

XIX. Achil le s too , the pupil of Chiron , discovereda plant to he a l wounds , which is there fore ca lledachilleos , and by it he is said to have cured Te lephus .

Some have it that he w as the first to find out thatcoppe r—rust is a most use fu l ingredient of plasters , forwhich reason he is repre sented in paintings as

scraping it with his sword from his spe ar on to the

wound of Te lephus , while others hold that he usedboth remedies . This plant is a lso cal led by some

Heraclean panaces , by others siderite s , and by us

mille folia ; the stalk is a cubit high , and the plantbranchy , covered from the bottom with leave s smallerthan those of fenne l . Others admit that this plant isgood for wounds , but say that the real achilleos has a

blue stalk a foot long and without branche s , graceful ly covered all over with separate , rounded le ave s .Others describe achilleos as having a square stem,

he ads like those of horehound , and leave s like thoseof the oak ; they claim that it even unites severedsinews . Some give the name sideritis to anotherplant , which grows on boundary wa l ls and has a foulsme l l when crushed , and a lso to yet another , l ikethis but with paler and more fle shy le ave s , and withmore tender sta lks , growing in vineyards finally toa third , tw o cubits high , with thin , triangular twigs ,leave s l ike those of the fern , a long foot - stalk and

se ed like that of be e t . All are said to be exce l lentfor wounds . Roman authoritie s cal l the one withthe broade st le af royal broom ; it cure s qu1nsy In

p1gs .

XX . Teucer too in the same age discoveredteucrion , called by some hemionion it spreads out

By discov ering a plant Pliny seems tomean discoveringIts v alue mmedicine .

Achi lli

Teucrio


t ebues , folia parva , asperis locis , austero sapore ,numquam florentem , nec quae 1 semen gignit .

medetur lienibus , constatque sic inventam : cum

exta super e am proiecta essent , adhaesisse lienieumque exinanisse . ob id a quibusdam splenion

v ocatur . narrant sue s qui radicem e ius edint sinesplene inv eniri . qu idam ramis hysopi surculosam ,

folio fabae , eodem nomine appe l lant et colligi cum

floreat iubent— adeo florere non dubitant— maxime

que ex Ciliciae e t Pisidiae monnbus laudant .

XXI. M e lampodis fama div inationis art ibus notae st . ab hoc appellatur unum hellebori genusme lampodion . aliqui pastorem eodem nomine in

venisse tradunt , capras purgari pasto il lo animadv er

tentem, datoque lacte earum sanasse Proetidas

furent es .

2quamobrem de omnibus e ius generibus

dici s imul conv enit . prima duo sunt , candidum ac

nigrum . hoc radicibus tantum intellegi tradunt

plerique , alii fol ia nigri platano similia sed minora

nigrioraque et pluribus divisuris scissa , albi betaeincipientis , hae c quoque nigriora e t canalium dorso

1 fiorentem, nec quae Detlef sen cum uno cod. : fioremneque M ayhoff

2 furentes] H ic lacunam ind icatM ayhoff.

See note 0 11 542 .

Mayhoff supposes that there is lacuna here w ith the

following sens e our authorities are not agreed about the

diff erences between the v arious kinds of hellebore .

1 70


rubescentia , utraque caule palmeo1 ferulaceo , bu lbo

rum tuni cis convoluto, radice fimbriata ceparummodo. migro equi , bove s , sues necantur, itaque

cavent id , cum candido v escantur . t empest ivum

e sse tradunt messibus . plurimum autem nascitur in

O et e monte , et Optimum uno e ius loco circa Pyram .

nigrum ubique prov enit , sed me l ius in He licone , qui

mons et al iis laudatur herbis . candidum probatur

secundum O etaeum Ponticum, tertio loco Eleat icumquod in vitibus nasci ferunt , quarto Parnas1um

quod adult eratur Ae tolico ex vicino . nigrum ex hisme lampodium vocant , quo e t domus suffiunt pur

gantque , spargentes e t pe cora , cum precatione

sollemni . hoc et re ligiosius colligitur , primum enim

gladio circumscribitur , de in qui succisurus est ortum

spectat et precatur ut id liceat sibi concedentibus diisfacere , observ atque aqui lae v olatus , fere enim

secantibus intere st e t , si prope advolav it , moriturumil lo anno qui succidat augurium est . nec a lbum facilecolligitur, caput adgrav ans maxime , ni si praesumatur

alium et subinde vinum sorbeatur celeriterque

fodiatur. nigrum ali i ectomon2vocant , al ii polyr

rhiz on . purgat per inferma , candidum autem vomitione , causasque morborum extrahit , quondamterri bile , postea tam promiscuum ut plerique studio

1palmeo coni. M ayhojff XXVI. 95 coll. palmari Urlichs ,

Detlef sen palmi codd. et M ayhoff .

2ectomon Hard. ex Theophras to et Dioscoride : encymon

plures codd Detlefsen, M ayhofi : euchymon vulg.

Gf . Theophrastus H .P . IX 10 è 4 xa9a ipov<n Ka i oixia5

d urm Ka i npofiar a. ov verrgi$ ovr ég u va. errw 3 7;v .

See Theophrastus IX. 10 54 : KaÀovaL r av pe'

/l a va. n ves

e'

xronov MeÀapmodw v,w s exa vov npc

'

òrov r epovrog Ka l. civevpov

ros . Dioscorides IV. 162 eÀÀéfiopog ne'

/l as OL MeÀapno$ w v,

ci 8% è'

Kropov, oi Sè noÀv'

ppclov xaÀovm.

1 72

BOOK XXV. xx1. 48—51

like those of bulbs , and with a root fringed like that ofonions . The black he llebore kil ls horse s , oxen and

pigs ; so they avoid it , a lthough they eat the whitekind . The latter i s sa id to be ripe at harve st , and itgrows abundantly on Mount Oe ta , and the best on one

part of it , around the place cal led Pyra . The blackkind is to be found ev eryw here ,b ut the be tter sortgrows on He l icon , a mountain ce lebrated also for

other plants . Next after the white he l lebore of Oe tathat of Pontus is most approved ; the third place istaken by that of Elea , which is said to grow amongvines , and the fourth by he l lebore of Parnassus ,which is adulterated by he l lebore from the ne ighbouring country of Aetolia . Of these the blackkind they cal l me lampodium ; with it they fumigateand cleanse house s , sprinkling it on she ep , and

adding a formal prayer.

“ This kind is gatheredwith even greater formalitie s . First a circle isdrawn round it with a sword ; then the man w ho isgoing to cut it looks at the East with a prayerthat the gods wil l grant him permission to do so .

He also ke eps on the look - out for a flying e agle— forgenerally one is pre sent when men cut— and if an

eagle fl ie s near , it is a sign that the gatherer will diein that year. The white too is not easy to gatherit is very oppre ssive to the head unle ss g arlic iseaten be forehand , wine swal lowed every now and

then and the plant dug up qu ickly . Some cal l theblack kind ectomon ,

“others polyrrhiz on .

“ Thispurge s by stool , but the white kind doe s so byvomiting , and carrie s away whatmight cause disease sonce regarded with horror it afterwards be came so

With many roots , and é'

xrouov means cut out , or

perhaps cut short,”cf . decurta tae 53 .


rum gratia ad pervidenda acrius quae comm entabantur saepius sumptitav erint . Carn eaden re sponsurum Z enonis l ibris ,

1 B rusum quoque apud nos,tribunorum popularium clarissimum , cui ante omn is 2

plebs astans plausit , optimate s vero be l lum hIarsi

cum input av e re , constat hoc medicamento liberatumcomitiali morbo in Anticyra insula . ibi enim tutis

sime sumitur, quoniam , ut diximus , sesamoidesadmiscent . Ital ia veratrum vocat . farina eorum

per se e t mixta radiculae qua lanas diximus lav ari

st ernumentum facit , amboque somnum . leguntur

autem t enuissimae radice s brev e sque ac ve lut decurtatae et imae . nam summa , quae e st cras sissima ,

cepis simi l is , canibus tantum daf ur purgationis causa .

antiqu i radi cem cortice quam carnosissimo se ligebant ,quod 3 t enuior eximere tur medul la hanc umidis

sponge is opert am turgescentemque acu in longitudinem findebant , de in fila in umbra siccabant hisutente s nunc ramulos ipsos ab radice quamgravi s simi ‘1 cortiois ita dant .

5optimum quod acre

1 Post libris excidisse se eo purgav isse pu ta t M ayhoff2omnis V, S ill ig, Detlefsen,

omn es ceteri codd .

et v ulg.

3quod VR Detlef sen quo d vulg . Mayhoff .

4gravissimi codd. , vu lg. , Dettef sen grandissimi C’. F . W

lll iiller : crassis simi M ayhojf .

5 dant Gelenius , .Mayhofl dantes codd. , vuky. ,Detlefsen.

Marcus Liv ius Drusus , tribune of the people 91There is much to be said for the reading omnes the

commons greet-ed w ith unprecedented applause .

”It has

strong MS . support and makes exce llent sense ; on the other

band a scribe woul d find the temptation v ery strong to writeomnes by mistake for omnis after ante.

1 74


gustu ferv ensque in frangendo pulv erem emi ttit .

durare v im XXX annis ferunt .

XXII. Nigrum mede tur paralyticis , insani entibus ,hydr0picis , dum ci tra febrim , podagris v eteribus ,articulariis morbis ; trahit ex alvo bi lem , pituitas ,aquas . datur ad leniter molliendam alvum plurimumdrachma una , modice quattuor obolis . mi scuerealiqui et scamonium , sed tutius salem . in dulcibus

datum copiosius pericu lum infert , oculorum cal i

ginem fotu di scutit . ob id quidam e t inunxere trito .

strumas , suppurata , duritias concoquit e t purgat ,item fistulas tertio die exemptum . verrucas tollitcum squama acris e t sandaraca . hydropicorum

ventri inponitur cum farina hordeacia e t vino .

pecorum et iumentorum pituitas sanat surculo per

aurem traiecto et postero die eadem hora exempto,

scabiem quadripedum cum ture , cera ac pice v el cum

pisse laeo.

XXIII. A lbum optimum, quod ce len ! e mov et

sternumenta , sed multum t erribilius migro , praecipue

si qu is apparatum poturorum apud antiquos legatcontra horrores , strangulatus , intempe stivas somnivires , singu ltus infin itos aut st ernum enta , stomachidissolutiones, tardiores vomi tus aut longiores , exiguosaut nimios . quippe al ia dare soliti quae concitarent

vomi tiones ipsumque he lleborum extrahere medicamentis aut clyst eribus , saepius e tiam sangu ine v enis

emisso. iam vero et cum prospere cedat , terribili

Black or impure oxide of copper.

Disulphide of arsenic .

See XXIV. 19 .

Or possibly : v ery often .

BOOK XXV . XXI. 53—XXIII.

‘

57

taste , and give s out dust when broken . It ke eps , it issaid , its e fficacy for thirty years .XXII. Black he l lebore is a cure for para lysis , Black

madne ss , dropsy without fever , chronic gout and

disease s of the joints ; it draws from the be lly bile ,phlegms and morbid fluids . For gently moving thebowe ls the maximum dose is one drachma ; a

moderate one is four obol i . Some have mixedscammony also with it , but to add sa lt is safer. A

larger dose given in swe e t substances is dangerous ;used as a fomentation it disperse s films over the

eye s . There fore some have also pounded it and

made an eye salve . It mature s and clears upscrofulous sore s , suppurations and indurations ;fistulas also if it be taken off on the third day.

With copper scale s “ and sandarach it remove swarts . With barley mea l and wine it is applied tothe abdomen for dropsy . It cure s phlegms in cattleand draught animals if a spray be passed across theear and taken out at the same hour on the next day ;with frankincense , w ax and pitch , or w ith pisse laeonit cure s itch in quadrupeds .XXIII. The best white he l lebore is that which White

most qu ickly cause s sneezing . It is , however , farmore terrifying than the black sort , especia lly if onereads in our old authoritie s of the e laborate pre

cautions , taken by those about to drink it , againstShivering , choking , overpowering and unseasonablesle ep , prolonged hiccough or sneezing , fluxes of the

stomach , vomi ting , too s low or too long , scanty or

too excessive . In fact they usual ly gave other thingsto promote vomiting , and drove out the he l lebore itse lf by medicine or enema , or more often they usedeven bleeding . Furthermore , even when the he l lebore


visu ,

1 var11s coloribus v omi tionum et post vomitionesobserv atione a lvi , balinearum dispensatione , totius

corporis cura , antecedente omni a haec magno terrorefamae , namque tradunt absumi carmem ,

2 si coquaturuna . sed antiquorum vitium erat quod propter bosme tus parcius dabant , cum ce lerius erumpat quo

largius sumitur . Themison binas non amplius

drachmas datav it , sequente s et quaternas dedereclaro Herophili praeconio , qui helleborum fortissimiducis simi litudin i aequabat . concitatis enim intusomn ibus ipsum in primis exire . praeterea mirum

inv entum est quod incisum forficulis , ut diximus ,

cribrant , cortex remanet , hoc inaniunt , medullacadit , haec in nimia purgatione data vomitiones

sist it .

XXIV. Cav endum est fe lici quoque cura ne nubilodie detur , inpetibiles quippe cruciatus existunt .

nam aestate potius quam bieme dandum non est in

dubio. corpus septem diebus ante praeparandum

cibis acribus , abstinentia vini , quarto et tertio dievomitionibus , pridie cenae abstinentia . album e t in

1 terribili v isu E Detlefsen : terribilius M ayhofi'

terribil is

v isu multi codd .

2carmem E

, vulg. , Detlefsen carnes quinque codd. et

M ayhoff , qui XXIII. 55 126, 127 , 150 conf eri. S ed hic caro

verbi coquatur esse subiectum videtur.

Mayhofi"s conjecture terribilius (sc. helleborum est) makes

the grammar simpler, the ablatives being causal and depend

178


dulci datur , apt issime vero in lente and pu lte . nuper

inv enere dissectis raphanis inserere helleborum

rursusque conprimere raphanos , ut trans eat vis , atquelenimento dare . reddi post quattuor fere horasincipit . totum opus septenis peragitur horis . medetur ita morbis comitialibus , ut diximus , vertigini ,me lancholicis , ins anientibus , lymphatis , e lephantias i

albae , lepris , tetano , tremulis , podagricis , hydropicis

incipient ibusque tympanicis , stomachicis , spasticis

cyni cis , ischiadicis , quartanis , quae aliter non desinant , tussi v eteri, inflationibus , torminibus redeun

tibus .

XXV . Ve tant dari senibus , pueris , item mol lis ac

feminei corporis animiv e , exilibus aut temeris , e t

feminis minus quam viris , item timidis , aut si exulcerata sint praecordi a v e l tume ant , minime san

guinem excre antibus causariisv e latere , faucibus .

mede tur extra corporis eruptionibus pituitae cum

axungia salsa inlitum ,

1 item suppurationi v et eri .

mure s polentae admixtum mecat . Gal li sagittas inv enatu he lleboro t ingunt circumcisoque vulneret eneriorem sentiri cam em adfirmant . muscae quo

1 A latere usque ad inlitum ita distinguere et emendarevult M ayhoff : latere . faucibus medetur extra corpori

inpositum,eruptionibus pitui tae cum axungia salsa inlitum.

In 554 it is said that black hellebore is dangerous if giv encopiosius in dulcibus , so et is here probably not postponed, but

ev en .

”

Perhaps in sweet w ine , but the plura] (dulcibus) ing54 is against this .

See Ce lsus III. 2 1 and list of diseases . See also note d 0 11

p. 88 .

Mayhoff’

s emendations and pun ctuation are attractiv e ,and ease the structure of the next sentence considerably .

The meaning would be : If applied externally to the neck180

BOOK XXV. XXIV. 59—xxv . 61

from dinner. White he l lebore is given even “ in a

swe e t medium ,

“a lthough most suitably in lentils or

pottage . Re cently the me thod has be en discoveredof splitting radishe s , inserting he l lebore , and thenpressing the radishe s together again , so that theproperty of the purge pene trate s them ; the he l lebore is thus administered in a modified form. Vomiting begins after about four hours , and the wholebus ine ss is over in seven . Thus given he l lebore iscurative of epilepsy , as has been said , giddiness ,me lancholia , insanity , wi ld distraction , white leprosy ,leprous soros , tetanus , pa lsy , gouty aflectio113 ,dropsy and incipient tympan itis ,“ stomachic aflections ,spasmodic grins , sciatica , quartan fe ver that yie ldsto no other treatment , chronic cough , flatulence and

re current gripings .

XXV . He l lebore is never pre scribed for old peopleor children , or for those w ho are soft and eff eminatein body or mind , or for the thin or de l icate ; forwomen it is le ss suited than for men , unsuitable toofor the nervous or when the hypochondria are

ulcerated or swol len , very bad when there is spittingof blood , pain in the side , or sore throat .“Applied external ly w ith salted axle - gre ase it cure spituitous eruptions“ on the body and also suppurationsof long standing . M ixed with pearl barley it ki llsrats and mice . The Gauls when hunting dip the irarrows in he l lebore , and say that the meat when theflesh round the wound has been cut away taste s more

tender . Plies too die if pounded white he l lebore

it is a cure for sore throats , and an embrocation of h elleborewith salted axle—grease , etc .

”But the falling out of in

positum seems too unlikely for the restoration to be adopted

with confidence .

See list of diseases .


que necantur albo trito e t cum lacte sparso. eodemet phthiriasis emendatur .

XXVI. Ipsi M ithridati Crateuas adscripsit unam ,

mithridatiam v ocatam (huic folia duo a radiceacantho similia , caulis inter utraque sustinens

roseum florem) . XXVII. alteram Lenaeus , scordot imsive scordion , ipsius manu descriptam ,

1 magnitu

dine cubitali , quadriangulo cau le , ramosam , querna

simi litudine foliis lanuginosis . reperitur in Ponto ,

campis pinguibus umidisque , gustus amari . est e t

alterius generis , latioribus foliis , mentas tro similis ,plurimosque utraque ad usus per se et inter alia inantidotis .

XXVIII. Polemoni am ali i phile taeriam ab certamine regum inv entionis appe l lant , Cappadoce s

autem chiliodynamiam , radice crassa , exilibus rami squ ibus in summis corymbi dependent , nigro semine ,

cetero rutae simi lis , nascitur in montosis .

XXIX . Eupatoria quoque regiam auctoritatemhabe t , cauli s lignosi, nigricantis , hirsuti, cubitalis et

aliquando amplioris , foliis per interval la quinquefolii aut cann abis per extremi tate s incisis quinque

pertito , nigris e t ipsis plumosisque , radice super

1 descriptamCaesarii editio etBasileensis editio adscriptamcodd. , edd.

The old reading descriptam, although found in no MS .

and in no modern edition , is'

_probably right ; adscriptammi ght easily hav e been written by a scribe w ho had justwritten adscripsit, although the mistake may hav e been made

by Pliny’

s amanuens is . Another possible solution is that

adscrip tam has displaced an entirely diff erent word, such as

depictam or collectam.

Polemon, King of Pontus, and Philetaerus, King of

Cappadocia .

1 82


vacua . semen dysintericis in vi

no potum auxiliatur

unice .

XXX . Centaurio curatus dicitur Chiron , cum

Herculis excepti hospitio pertractanti arma sagittaexcidisset ei in pedem , quare aliqui chironion vocant .

folia sunt lata et oblonga , serrato ambitu , dens i 1

ab radice cau les t emum cubitorum geniculat i . in

his capita ceu papav erum . radix vasta , rubescens ,tenera fragilisque , ad hina cubita , madida succ ,

amara cum quadam dulcedine . nascitur in collibus

pingui solo, laudatis sima in Arcadia , Elide , M e ssenia ,

Pholoe , Lycaeo, e t in Alpibus vero plurimi sque aliislocis . in Lycia quidem e t ex ea lycium faciunt .

vis in vulneribus tanta est ut cohaerescere e tiamcarne s tradant , si coquantur s imul . in usu radi x ,

tantum duabus drachmi s bibenda quibus dicetur.

si febris sit , in aqua tr ita , ceteris in vino medetur.

et ovium 2 morbis decoctae sucus .

XXXI. Est alterum centaurium cognomine lepton ,

minutis foliis , quod aliqui libadion v ocant , quoniam

1 dens i e Dioscoride, M ayhojj'

: dens a codd. et Detlefsen .

2ov ium vulg. z obv ins (1 T Detlef sen : febrium M ayhoff,

qui VIII 119,XXIII 48 conf ert : omnium Barbarus

iisdem Hard. v olv arum Ianus obv ium VEE.

For the meaning of curare and its cognate s see XXIV.

74 note c.

See XXIII. 5 109 note d. Here a juice that serv ed the

same purpose as lycium proper, whi ch w as an astringent .

See W . G . Spencer’

s Celsus , v ol . II, pp. xl and xii .

A v ery diffi cul t sentence because of the uncertainty of

the reading . Three of the chi ef MSS . giv e obvium and tw o

obvius . If avium w as changed to obviam the further change

to obvius would be inev itable because of sucus . Det lefsenretains obvius, but I can find no clear instance of its us e with184


secundum fonte s nascitur , origano sim i le , angustioribus et longioribus foliis , angu loso caule palmum

alto , fruticante ,

1 flore lychnidis , radi ce tenu i e t

superv acua , suco eflicax . ipsa herba autumn o legitur, sucus e fronde . quidam cau le s concisos madefaciunt diebus XVIII atque ita exprimunt . hoc

centaurium nostri fe l terrae vocant propter amaritudinem summam , Galli exacum , quoniam omn iamala medicamenta potum e corpore exigat per

alvum .

XXXII. Tertia est centauris cognomine triorchis .

qui eam secat rarum est ut non vulneret sese . haecsucum sanguineum mi ttit . Th eophrastus de fendieam inpugnarique colligent es tradit a triorche

accipitrum genere , unde e t nomen accepit . imperiticonfundunt haec omn ia et primo generi adsignant .

XXXIII. Clymenus a rege herba appe llata est ,

hederae foliis , ramosa , caule inani articulis praecincto,

2

odore gravi et semine hederae , silv estribus et mon

tuosis nascens . qu ibus morbis pota medeatur dicemus , sed hic indi candum est , dum medeatur , steri litatem pota etiam vir is fieri . Graeci plantagini simi lem esse dixerunt , caule quadrato, folliculis cum

semine inter se inplexis v eluti 3 polyporum cirris .

et sucus autem in usu , vi summa in refrigerando.

1 frut icante Gelenii editio Basileensis, Detlef sen : fruticanti

vulg. frut icosum M aghofi fruticum aut frut icantu codd.

2praecincto con i. M ayhoff prae cincta codd . et edd.

v eluti vet. Dal S itlig, Mayhofl'

: v elut in codd. , vulg.,

Ianus , Detlef sen.

Theophrastus H .P . IX. 8, 7.


XXXIV . Gentianam invenit G entius rex Il lyricrum , ubique nascent em , in Illyrico tamen praestan

tissimam , fol io fraxini , sed magn itudine lactucae ,

cau le tenero poll icis crassitudine , cavo e t inani , ex

int erv allis foliato, trium aliquando cubitorum , radicelenta , subnigra , sine odore , aquosis montibus sub

alp in is plui - ima . usus in radice et suco . radicisnatura est excalfactoria , sed praegnantibus non

bibenda .

XXXV . Inveni t e t Lysimachus quae ab eo nomen

re tin et , ce lebrata Erasistrato . folia habet ut salicis

v iridia , florem purpureum , fruticosa , ramulis erectis ,

odore acri . gignitur in aquosis . vis e ius tanta est

ut iumentis discordantibus iugo inposita asperitatem

cohibeat .

XXXVI. Mulieres quoque hanc gloriam adfecta

vere , in quibus Artemi sia uxor M ausoli adoptata herbaquae antea parthenis v ocabatur. sunt qui ab Artemide Il ithyia cognomin atam putent , quoniam privatim mede atur feminarum malis . est autem absinthii

modo fruticosa , maioribus foliis pinguibusque . ipsiusduo genera : altera 1

altior latioribus foliis , altera

1 alte ra altior ego altera vulg. altior codd. v aldi or coni.

M ayhcjff p.e'

v r ig c’

ae a òrfis eòepvrjs Dioscorides III. 113

(Wellmann). Portasse v alida .

Pliny has apparently forgotten that he should hav e

w ritten plurimam, part ly becaus e of the influence of radice .

The parallel pas sage in Dioscorides III. 113

is : 17 p.e'

v T LS eon v d urns cvepvrjg, 77Àa 7'157 6p0. exovoa. rà qSuÀÀa

Ka l. r ag pd850 vs, 8è Àerrror e'

pa Àerrror epa ) , &V977 7.1p 6…Àe1mî , Bapv

’

oap.a . The reading in the text implies that Plinytransla ted akpmjg by a ltior and that altera has been lost beforealtior. Mayhofi

‘

suggests valdior for altior, and perhaps Pliny188

BOOK XXV . XXXIV. 7 1—XXXVI. 74

XXXIV . It w as a king of the Il lyrians namedGentius w ho discovered gentian , which , though itgrows everywhere , is most exce l lent when it growsin Illyria . The le af is like that of the ash but of the

size of a lettuce leaf ; the stem is tender and of the

thickne ss of a thumb , hol low and empty , with leave sat intervals , sometime s three cubits in he ight ,and growing from a pliant root , which is darkish and

w ithout sme l l . It grows abundantly “on watery

slopes near the foot of the Alps . The parts usedare the root and the juice . The nature of the root iswarming , but it should not be taken in drink bywomen with child .

XXXV . Lysimachus too discovered a plant , stil lnamed after him, the pra ise s of which have be en sungby Erasistratus . It has green leaves l ike those of

the wi llow , a purple flower, be ing bushy , withsmall upright branche s and a pungent sme l l . It

grows in watery districts . Its power is so great that,if placed on the yoke when the beasts of burden are

quarre lsome , it che cks the ir bad temper.

XXXVI. Women too have been ambitious to

gain this distinction , among them Artemisia , thewi fe of Mausolus , w ho gave her name to a plantwhich be fore w as called parthenis . There are some

w ho think that the surname is derived from Artemis Ilithyia , because the plant is spe cific for the

troubles of women . It is also bushy , re semblingwormwood , but with larger and flesby le ave s . O f the

plant itse lf there are tw o kinds : one higher and

with broader leave s , the other soft and with more

wrote al tera valida contrasted with a ltera tenera . This isperhaps what he ought to hav e written, but the steps bywhich a ltera va lida could become altior are conj ectural .

Gentium

Lysima

Artemis


tenera tenuioribus, e t non nisi in maritimis nascens .

sunt qui in mediterraneis eodem nomine appe l lent ,simplici caule , minimis foliis , floris copiosi erumpentiscum uv a maturescit , odore non iniucundo . quam 1

qu idam botryn , alu ambrosiam v ocant , tal is in

Cappadocia nascitur .

XXXVII. Nymphaea nata traditur nympha ze lotypia erga Herculem mortua quare heracleon

vocant aliqui, al ii rhopalon a radice clavae simi liideoque eos qui biberint eam XII diebus coitu

genituraque privari . laudatissima in O rchomenia

et M arathone . Boeoti ma l lon vocant e t semen

edunt . nascitur in aquosis , foliis magnis in summa

aqua et aliis ex radice , flore lilio simi li et , cum

defloruit , capite papav eris , levi2 cau le . secatur

autumno radix nigra , in sole siccatur . adversatur

lieni .

3est e t alia nymphaea in Thessal ia , amne

Penio, radice alba , capite luteo , rosae magnitudine .

1quam vulg. , M ayhoff quem plerique codd. ,

Detlef sen .

2 lev i e Dioscoride M ayhoff in codd . , vulg. , Detlefsen .

lieni ego : ita lieni Ill ayhoff : ea alvimalis Ianus , Detlefsenet alium d E vulg. ceteri codd . omittunt.

Dioscorides III. 114 : dufipooia , fiv EvL0 L Bo'

rpv v , c i

cipr ep.w ia v KaÀo1î aL Ka r a'rrÀe

'

xe‘ra L Sè e

’

v Kannada /( ig.

ar e ;òdvms .

Dioscorides (III. 13 2 We llmann ) has : cirovia v -r e e

’

pyd

{ € TQL a i80 iov npòs dÀiya g rjuépas, ci TLS“ év8€ Àexd39 Wii/OL. If

this is the kind of Greek that Pliny w as translating, hi s

words should mean,not what I hav e written in the transla

t ion, but“are incapable of in tercourse and procreation for

twelv e days .

”.But a passage in XXVI. 94 shows that Pliny

1 90


XXXVIII. Invenit et patrum nostrorum aetaterex Iuba quam appellav it euphorbeam medici sui

nomine . frater is fuit Musae a quo divum Augustum

conservatum indicav imus. iidem fratre s instituere a

balineis frigida multa corpora adstringere . anteanon erat mos nisi ca l ida tantum lav ari, sicut apudHomerum e tiam inv enimus. sed Iubae volumen

quoque extat de ea herba et clarum praeconium .

invenit eam in monte Atlante , Specie thyrsi , foliisacanthinis . vis tanta est ut 1 e longinquo sucus

excipiatur incisa conto ; subitur excipulis ventriculohaedino umor lactis vide tur defluens ;

2siccatus

cum cont , turis eflìgiem habet . qui colligunt clarius

vident . contra serpentes medetur , quacumque parte

percussa vertice inciso e t medicamento addito ibi .Gaetul i qui legunt taedio lacte adulterant , sed

discernitur igni , id enim quod sincerum non est

fastidiendum odorem habet . multum infra hunc

sucum est qui in Gal lia fit ex herba chamelaea

granum cocci ferente . fractus hammoniaco simil isest , etiam levi gustu os accensum diu detinens et

magis ex interval lo, donec fauce s quoque siccet .

1 ut e longinquo Mayhofi v el e longinquo codd. etDetlefsen,

qui postea excipitur cumV scribit.2 defluens Salma sius

,Mayhojj

”: defluere codd.

Juba is probably the son of the Juba w ho committedsuicide after Thapsus . He w as brought to Rome by Caesarand carefully educated.

See note on 542 of this book.

BOOK XXV . XXXVIII. 77—79

XXXVIII. In the age too of our fathers King Euphor

Juba “ discovered “ a plant to which he gave the

name euphorbea , cal l ing it after his ow n physicianEuphorbus . This man w as the brother of the Musaw e have mentioned as the saviour of the l ife of the

late Emperor Augustus . It w as these brothers w hofirst adopted the plan of bracing the body by copiousdouches of cold water after the bath . Be fore thisthe custom w as to bathe in hot water only , as w e

find that it is also in Homer. But the treatise a lso of

Juba on this plant is stil l extant , and it make s a

splendid testimon ial . He discovered it on MountAtlas : it has the appearance of a thyrsus and the

leaves of the acanthus . Its potency is so great thatthe juice , obtained by incision with a pole , is gatheredfrom a distance ; it is caught in rece ivers made of

kids ’ stomachs placed underneath . Flu id and l ikemilk as it drops down , when it has dried and con

gealed it has all the feature s of frankincense . The

col lectors find the ir vision improved . It is em

ployed as treatment for snake - bite . In whateverpart of the body the bite may be , an incision is madein the top of the sku l l and the medicament inserted there . The Gaetul ians w ho gather the juiceadulterate it out of weary disgust by adding mi lk ,but fire is a te st of genuineness , for that which isadulterated emits a nauseating sme l l . Far inferiorto the Atlas juice is that which in Gaul comes fromthe ground - olive , which bears a red berry like kerme s .

Broken it re semble s hammoniacum , and even a

slight taste leave s for a long time a burn ing sensationin the mouth ; after a while this increases until itdries up even the throat .

See XIX. 5 128 .

VOL. VII.


XXXIX . Ce lebrav it et Themiso medicus vulgaremherbam plantaginem tamquam inventor volumine de

ea edi to. duo e ius genera : minor angustioribus

foliis et nigrioribus , l inguae pecorum simi lis , cauleanguloso in t erram inclinato, in pratis nascens .

altera maior , foliis laterum modo inclusa , quae qu iasept ena sunt , quidam eam heptapleuron vocav ere .

huius et caul is cubital is est ; quae 1 in umidis nascitur

multo e fficacior. mira vis in siccando densandoque

corpore , cauterii v icem optinens . nul la res aeque sistitfluct iones quas Graeci rheumatismos vocant .

XL. Iungitur huic buglossos boum l inguae simi lis ,cui praecipuum quod in vinum deiecta animi voluptate s auge t , e t v ocatur euphrosynum .

XLI. Iungitur et cynoglossos caninam linguam imitata , topiariis operibus gratissima . aiunt quae tre sthyrsos seminis mi ttat e ius radicem potam ex aquaad t ert ianas prode sse , quae quattuor ad quartanas .

est et al ia simi lis e i quae fert lappas minutas . e iusradix pota ex aqua ran is et serpent ibus adv ersatur.

XLII. Est e t buphthalmus simili s boum oculis ,folio feniculi, circa oppida nascens , fruticosa , 2

1est ; quae in ego est et uv a api. in Detlef sen : e s t . et ipsa

in M ayhofi , qui lacunam et radices crassitudine digitali esseconiecit est et v api in codd. Pro v api coni . napi Ianus (napisimil is

2 Post f rut icosa lacunam esse puto post caulibus M ayhofl .

As Mayhoff says, this sentence cann ot be restored w ithany certainty . The reading of the MSS , vapi, is a vox nikili.

Of the many emendations proposed that of Detlefsen is

the nearest to it , and next comes that of Jan. Mayhofi"s

text is but a stop gap, and the same must be said of myqua e, which is fairly near to the MSS but is most unlikelyto hav e been changed by a scribe to et vapi. Pliny t00k

heptapleuron to mean“ with sev en sides , but the greater

plantain has sev en ribs on the leaf . See alsoMayhoff’

sAppendix.

I94


caulibus qui et manduntur decocti. quidam caloban 1

v ocant . hae c cum cera ste atomata discutit .

XLIII. Inv enere he rbas e t univ ersae gente s ,Scythia primam e am quae scythice v ocatur, circaM aeotim nascens , praedulcem alias utilissimamquead ea quae asthmata v ocant . magna et e a

”

commendatio , quod in ore e am habent es sitim famem

que non sent iunt .

XLIV . Idem praestat apud eosdem hippace , distincta , quod in equ is quoque eundem e ff ectumhabeat , traduntque his duabus herbis Scythas etiamin duodenos die s durare in fame sitique .

XLV . Ischaemonem Thracia invenit , qua ferunt

sanguinem sist i non aperta modo vena sed - e tiam

praecisa . serpit in2 terra milio simi l is , folii s asperis

e t lanuginosis . farcita 3 in nare s quae in Ital ianascitur , et e adem adalligata , sangu inem sistit .

XLVI. Vettones in H ispan ia e am quae vettonicadicitur in Gallia , in Ital ia autem serratula , a Graeciscestros aut psychrotrophon , ante cunetas laudatissima . exit anguloso cau le cubitorum duum e radicespargens fol ia fere lapathi , serrata , semine purpureo .

folia siccantur in farinam plurimos ad usus . fitvinum ex ea et ace tum stomacho et claritati ocu

1 caloban multi codd . , Detlef sen : chalcan E . M ayhoff : cachlam H ermotaus Barbaras ex D ioscoride .

2 in .Mayhoff e aut et codd .

3 farcita (e parcita ) ego : farcitur E : parcitum R : par

citam V 1parcituram V2

.

Ante eadem in codd . sanguinem ; ego transposai. Inter

et et sanguinem supplet ciet .Mayhoff . Distinxi ego.

The editors suggest that Pliny has wrongly thought thatinmim7, mare

’

s—milk cheese , w as a plant . The cheese is

mentioned by Hippocrates , A irs, Waters , Places , ch. XVIII ,but there may hav e been a plant of the same name .

196

BOOK XXV . XLII. 82—XLVI. 84

stems that are boi led and eaten . Some cal l it calchas .

This plant with w ax added disperse s fatty tumours .XLIII. Whole tribe s too have discovered plants . Scythics.

Scythia first found out about the one cal led scythice ,which grows round Lake M aeotis . One of itsqualitie s is great swe e tne ss , and it is very beneficialfor the complaint cal led asthma . Another gre atmerit of it is the fre edom from hunger and thirstenjoyed by those w ho ke ep it in the ir months .

XLIV . The same people find the same property inthe ir hippace ,

“ which has the unique quality of

affecting horse s in the same w ay . It is said that onthe se tw o plants the Scythians can fast from food and

drink even for as long as twe lve days at a time .

XLV. Thrace found out about ischaemon , which is Ischaemsaid to stanch bleedingwhen a ve in has not me re ly beencut but even severed . It creeps along the groundas doe s mi llet ; the leave s are rough and downy .

The kind that grows in Italy , stuffed into the nostri ls ,and a lso when used as an amu le t , stanche s ble eding .

“

XLVI. The Vettones in Spain discovered the plantcalled vettonica in Gau] , serratula in Ita ly , and

cestros or psychrotrophon by the Gre eks , a plantmore highly valued than any other . It springs upwith an angular stem of tw o cubits , spreading out

from the root leave s rather l ike those of lapathum , se r

rated , and with a purple fruiting - head . Its leave s aredried into a powder and used for very many purpose s .From it are made a wine and a vinegar , good for the

Mayhoff’

s reading means stuff ed in to the n ostrils it

causes bleeding ; used as an amulet it stanches it .” Farcitus

is a v ery late form, but Pliny may hav e used it .The plant with leav es like a saw .

”

Ea may refer to the plant or to the powder made fromthe leav es, probably to the latter.

Veltonic


lorum, tantumque gloriae habet ut domus in qua satasit tuta existimetur a periculis

1omnibus .

XLVII. In e adem H ispania inventa e st cantabrica

per divi Augusti tempora a Cantabris reperta .

nascitur ubique caule iunceo pedal i , in quo suntflosculi oblongi v e luti calathi , in his semen perquam

minutum . nec alias de fuere Hispaniae herbis ex

quirendis , ut in qu ibus et iamnunc hodie in more sitlae tiore conv ictu potionem e centum herbis mulsoadditis credere saluberrimam suav issimamque . nec

quisquam genera carum iam novit aut multitudinem ,

numerus tamen constat in nomine .

XLVIII. Nostra aetas meminit herbam in M arsisrepertam . nascitur e t in Aequicolis circa v icum

Nerv esiae , vocatur consiligo . prodest , ut demon

strabimus suo loco , deploratis in phthisi.

XLIX . Inveni t nuper et Serv ilius Democrates e

primis medentium quam appellav it hiberida , quamquam ficto nomini inv entione 2 e ius adsignata carmine .

nascitur maxime circa ve tera monumenta parietinas

que e t inculta itinerum . floret semper, fol io nasturt ii,cau le cubital i , semine vix ut aspici possit . radiciodor nasturtii. u sus aestat e e fficacior e t recenti

1pericu lis V

2 Detlef sen : piaculis M ayhojf : piculis V1.

2 inv entione Salmasius , S illig : inv entioni codd. : aliae

Iectiones nomine (coni . homini M ayhoff et assignato.

Mayhoff’

s reading (piaculis ) is attract iv e because diffi cul t ,and is diff erent from V1 by one letter only. It would mean‘

crime or“

sin

The cala thus w as trumpet shaped, and so oblongus cannot

here mean oblong”

.

I.e . ,the potion is called the hundred -

plant drinkSee XXVI. g 3 8 .

An obscurely expressed sentence , which led some scribes


tantum . tunditur difficulter. coxendicibus e t articul is omn ibus cum axungia modica utilissima , viri s

plurimum quat ernis boris , feminis minus dimidioadalligata , ut de inde in balineis descendatur in cal idam et poste a oleo ac vino perunguatur corpus , diebusque v icenis interpositis idem fiat , si qua

'

ad

monit io doloris supersit . hoc modo rheumat ismos

omne s sanat occultos . inponitur non in ipsa inflammatione , sed inminuta .

L . Animalia quoque inv enere herbas , in primisqù eche lidoniam . hac enim hirundines oculis 1 pul lorumin n ido (medentur) restituuntque

2 visum , ut quidamv olunt , e tiam erutis oculis . genera e ius duo : maiorfruticosa , folio pastinacae erraticae ampliore , ipsaaltitudine duum cubitorum, colos albicans , flos luteus .minori folia hederae rotundiora , minus candida .

sucus croci mordax , semen papav eris . florent ad

ventu hirundinum , discessu marcescunt .

3 suonsflorentibus exprimi tur, e t in aereo vase cum me l leAttico lenit er cinere ferventi deeoqu itur , singulari

remedio contra caligine s oculorum . utuntur e t per

se suco e t in collyriis quae che lidonia appellantur

ab e a .

1oculis M ayhoff ocules V2 oculos Detlefsen.

2restituuntque E , M ayhofi , qui lacunam post nido indica!

et medentur coni. Ego supplementum addo Dioscoridemsecutus : restituunt dantque V

2, Detlef sen . Non medentur

sed prosunt supplet Brakman.

3 marcescunt R E vulg. , Mayhofi : inarescunt Detlef senarescunt (1 T .

I hav e adopted the suggest ion of Mayhofî , which he doesnot print in his text because of Dioscorides II 180 : 7 1vè3 Sè

npoa w ropnaa v on , e’

d v n s r vdÀw fly n ov 1 175 xeh ò’

ovos veoaow v ,

d L pnrép€ $ «poade'

povacu 7'

7’

7v noa v iw vrc u 7'

7’

7v m7pw ow a frrov .

Pliny took n 17pw cn v tomean that the eyes were actually gouged2 0 0

BOOK XXV . XLIX. 87—L. 90

mer, and only when fre shly gathered wil l it serve .

There is difficu lty in pounding it . For sciatica and all

complaints of the joints it is , with a l ittle axle—greaseadded , very beneficia] . The longe st application isfour hours for men and half as long for women thenthe 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 berepeated at intervals of twenty days , if any hint ofpain persists . This tre atment cure s all hidden fluxes .

The application is not made when inflammat ion isacute , but on ly when it has gone down .

L. An imals too have discovered plants , and among Chelidc

the chie f is the che lidonia . For by means of itswal lows cure the eye s of the chicks in the ne st , andre store the sight , as some hold , even when the eye shave been torn out .

“ There are tw o kinds of it .The larger kind is bushy , and its le af is l ike that ofthe wi ld carrot , but bigger , the plant itse lf be ingtw o cubits high , the colour l ight and the blossomye llow. The smal ler has leave s like those of ivy ,rounder and le ss pale .

“ The ju ice is l ike saffronjuice and pungent ; the seed re semble s that of the

poppy . Both plants blossom when the swa llowarrive s and wither when he departs . The juice isextracted while the plants are flowering , and is gentlyboiled down with Attic honey. in a copper ve sse l overhot ashe s , be ing a sovereign remedy for dimne ss of

vision . The ju ice is used both by itse lf and in the

eye- salve s cal led che lidonia after the plant .

out , whereas it merely means blindness as can be seen

from r v<fix\w 9fi. The reading ocules of V2probably arose from

the ending of hirundines , the word immediately before it .

I.o. ,than the larger plant .


LI. Inv enerunt et canes qua fastidium v incunt

e amque in nostro conspectu mandant , sed ita ut

numquam intellegatur quae sit . e t enim depasta

cernitur. notata est haec animalis e ius malignitas

in al ia herba maior. percussus enim a serpentemederi sibi quadam dicitur , sed illam homine spe ctante non decerpit .

LII. Simpl icius cerv ae monstrav ere e laphoboscon ,

de qua diximus , item sese lin 1a partu et tamnum ,

2

(LU I.) ostendere , ut indi cav imus , e t3 dictamnum

vulneratae pastu statim te lis decidentibus . non est

a l ibi quam in Creta , rami s praetenue , pule io simi le ,

ferv ens et acre gustu . foliis tantum utuntur , flos

nu l lus aut semen aut caul is , radix t ennis ac supervacua . et in Creta autem non spatiosa nascitur,mire

que capris expe titur . pro eo est e t pseudodictamnummu ltis in terris nascens , fol io simi le , ramulis minoribus , a quibusdam chondris vocatum. minoris

1seselin con i. .Mayhofi seseli enixae Hermolaus Bar

barus : helxinen M ayhoff in texiu et Detlef sen : helxine aut

he lsine codd.

2et tamnum coni . M ayhoff VIII . 5112 colla to dictamnum

Hermolaus Barbarus dictam Mayhojf in textu , Detlef sen,

codd .

3et ego addidi .

dictamnum del . H e-

rmolaus Barbarus .

See XXII. 79 .

VIII. 5112 .

VIII. 597 . The reading of the MSS . is v ery corrupt in thissentence , and the means of an approximate restoration are to

be found in the follow ing passages : XXII. 41 unde et

he lxinen dictam v olun t ; VIII. 112 : a partu duas, quaetamnus e t seselis appellantur , pastae redeun t ad fetum VIII.

597 dictamnum herbam extrahendi s sagittis cervi monstra

2 0 2


e ffectus statim inte llegitur. dictamnum enim min

ima potiòne accendit os . qui legere eas in feru la aut

harundine condunt prae ligantque ne potentia evanescat . sunt qui dicant utramque nasci multifariam,

sed deteriores in agris pinguibus , v eram quidem dictamnum 1 non nis i in asperis . est e t tertium genusdictamnum vocatum, sed neque facie neque e ffectu

simi le , fol io sisymbri, ram is maioribus, praecedente

persuasione i l la qu icquid in Creta nascatur infinito

praestare ceteris e iusdem generis al ibi genitis ,

proxime quod in Parnaso. alioqui herbiferum e ssee t Pe lium montem in The ssa l ia et Te lethrium in

Euboea et totam Arcadiam ac Laconicam tradunt ,

Arcade s quidem non medicaminibus uti sed lactecirca v er , quon iam tummaxime sue is herbae turgeantmedicenturque ubera pascuis . bibunt autem v acci

num , quoniam bove s omnivori fere sunt in herbis.

potentia earum per quadripedes etiamnum duobus

claris exemplis man ifesta fit . circa Abderam e t

limitem qui Diomedis vocatur equi pasti inflammantur rabie , circa Potnias vero et asin i .LIV . Inter nobilissimas aristolochiae nomen dedisse

gravidae videntur , quoniam e sset cipiorr7 Àexou'

ocu g .

nostri malum terrae vocant et quattuor genera e ius

1 dictamnum glossema esse puta t Maghaj .

Or, if etiamnum goes with duabus , by tw o further

examples.

BOOK XXV . 93 —LIV . 95

It is recognised at once , as its properties are le sspotent,for the sma l lest quantity of true dittany taken in drink ,burns the mouth . Those w ho gather them storethem in a piece of fenne l - giant or reed , which theytie up at the ends , to prevent the ir losing e fficacy .

There are some w ho say that both plants grow inmanyplace s , but that whi le the inferior kinds are found on

rich soi ls , true dittany is only seen on rough ground .

There is also a third plant cal led dittany , unlike theothers in appearance and propertie s ; the leave s arethose of sisymbrium and the branches are larger , butthere is the e stablished conviction that whateve rsimple grows in Crete is infinite ly superior to any of

the same kind to be found e lsewhere , and that thenext be st herbs are those to be found on MountParnassus . Report says that simple s grow beside s onMount Pe l ion in The ssaly , on Mount Te lethrius In

Euboea , and throughout Arcadia and Lacon ia , and

that the Arcadians inde ed use , not medicine s , butmi lk in the spring season , because it is at this time

chiefly that herbs are swol len with jui ce s which , whenthe beasts graze , medicate the ir udders . But themi lkthey drink is cow ’s milk , since kine wi l l feed on

a lmost any kind of plant . The potency of plantsbecomes clear from tw o striking example s of the iraction even on quadrupeds horse s that '

hav e grazedaround Abdera and what is cal led the bounds of

Diomede s go raving mad , as do also the asse stha t graze around Potniae .

LIV. Among the most ce lebrated plants aristo Aristollochia re ce ived its name , as i s clear , from women

with child , because they considered it to be dpiornÀexov

'

oaw , that is , exce l lent for women in childbed .

”

Latin writers cal l it e arth apple , dis

2 0 5


servant : unum tuberibus radicis rotundis , folusinter malv am et hederam , nigrioribusmollioribusque ,

a lterum masculae , radice longa , quattuor digitorumlongitudine , bacul i crassitudine , tertium longissimae ,

t enuitate vitis nove l lae , cuius sit praecipua vis , quaee t clematitis 1 vocatur , ab aliis eretica . omne scolore buxeo , caulibus parvis , flore purpureo . ferunt

baculas parvas ut cappari. valent radice tantum .

est e t quae plistolochia v ocatur , quarti generis ,tenuior quam proxime dieta, densis radicis capillamentis , iunci plenioris crassitudine . hanc qu idam

polyrrhiz on cognominant . odor omn ium medicatus ,

sed oblongae radici tenuiorique gratior, carnosi enimest corticis , unguentis quoque nardinis conveniens .

nascuntur pinguibus locis e t campestribus . effodere

eas messibus t empestivum , de squamato 2 terreno ser

vantur . maxime tamen laudatur Pontica e t in quo

cumque genere ponderosissima quaeque , medicinis

aptior rotunda , contra serpente s oblonga , in summa

1clematitis (ex Dioscoride) Hard. , vulg. , Mayhofl

'

clematiscodd. etDetlef sen .

2 desquamato Detlef sen in desquamato M ayhofl’

ita

desquamato vulg. ita e squama plerique codd.

M asculae and longissimae agree with aristolochiae under

stood . Perhaps radicis has fallen out before longissimae.

Or oblong (so Littré ), but this rendering seems umsuitable in v iew of 5 95 . Dioscorides (III 4 . 5 3 ) has : fi-

a s

Ka i K/\r7par în s xaÀeîrm Éxovaa p’

il,

'

as paxporciras,Àerrr afs, dÀouiv e

’

xo6cra5‘

naxò v Ka l dpw uar i{ovr a , idiw s

xpr;mp.evov'

oas uvpegbaî5‘

eis rds r <3 v 7uv'

pw v an ida s. So Pliny’

s

oblongae radici tenuiorique should refer to clema titis, but it is

2 0 6


tamen gloria est , si 1 modo a conceptu admota vulv is

in carne bubu la mares figurat , ut traditur . piscatores

Campaniae radicem e am quae rotunda est venenumterrae v ocant , coramque nobis contusam mixta ca lcein mare sparsere . advolant pisce s cupiditate mirastatimque exanimati fluitant . quae polyrrhiz os

cognominatur convulsis , contusis , ex a lto praeci

pitatis radice pota ex aqua util issima e sse traditur ,semine pleuriticis et nervis , confirmare , excalfacere ,eadem satyrion e sse .

LV . Verum et e ffectus ususque dicendi sunt ordiendumque a malorum omnium pessimo est , serpentiumictu . medentur ergo britanni ca herba , panacis

Omn ium generum radix e vino , chironi i e t flos e t

semen potum inlitumv e ex vino e t oleo, privatim quaecuni la bubula appellatur , polemonia v el phile taeris

radicis drachmis quattuor in mero , teneria , sideritis ,scordot is ex vino , privatim ad angues , pota e t inlita’sive succ sive fol io sive decocto , centaurii maioris

radix drachma in vini a lbi cyathis tribus , gentiana

praecipue adversus angues duabus drachmis cum

1si Detlef sen : ea (vel haec) si lll ayhofi : et si f ere omnes

codd . (num e t ex est ortum

See note b 0 11 p. 206, with the pa xpordr a î of Dioscorides .

Th e emendation of Mayhoff makes it a little clearer thatthe conditional clause applies to the radix oblonga and not to

the rotunda .

A contradiction of va lent radice tantum Through

out this chapter Pliny seems to be at his worst . It is a

mystery w hy he use s oblonga twice , when he must refer to theplan t called longissima , whereas in Dioscorides the corresponding Greek word applies to the root only, as does oblonga

in è 97 .

2 0 8

BOOK XXV . LIV . 97—LV . 1 0 0

kind ,“ but its greatest fame is that , if only it isapplied to the uterus in bee f after conception , itforms according to report male O ffspring . The

fishermen of Campania ca l l the root that is round'

poison of the e arth and I have seen them scatterit over the sea , crushed and mixed w ith lime . The

fish rush to it with wonderful gre ed , forthwith die , andfloat on the surface . The kind cal led polyrrhiz os isreported to be very beneficial for spra ins , bruise s ,and fal ls from a he ight , if the root is taken in water ,for pleurisy and the sinews if the se ed is used , andto be tonic and warming ; it is reported to be the

same plant as satyrion .

LV. But w e must mention also the propertie s anduse s of these plants , and begin with snake bite , theworst i l] of all . Cures then are : the plant britann ica ;the root of all kinds of panaces taken in wine ;both flower and seed of chironium taken in

drink or applied in wine and oil ; what is cal led oxcuni la , which is spe cific ; polemonia or phile taeris ,

the dose be ing four drachmae of the root in

neat wine ; t eucria , sideritis , and scordotis in

wine , specific remedie s for snake “ wounds , the

ju ice or leave s or a de coction be ing taken in

drink or f applied ; the root of the greater centauryin doses of one drachma in three cyathi of whitewine ; gentian , particularly good , whe ther fre shor dried , for snake bites in dose s of tw o drachmae

The Latin of Pliny certain ly seems to imply that he

distinguished angues from other serpentes, but the onlydiscov erable diff erence between the tw o words is that the

former has a rather more poetic flav our. See too XXIX . 71.

Pola refers to ex vino abov e .

f Perhaps and In such a collocation of words et is

often ambiguous.


pipere e t ruta , vini cyathis sex , sive viridis sive sicca .

e t lysimachiae odorem fugiunt . datur ex vino per

cussis che l idonia , morsibus inponitur vettonica prae

cipue , cui vis tanta perhibetur ut inclusae circulo e ius

serpentes ipsae se se interimant flage llando. datur ad

ictus semen e ius denarii pondere cum tribus cyathis

vini v el farina drachmis tribus sextario 1aquae

farina et inponitur2— cantabrica , dictamnum, aristo

lochia radicis drachma in vini hemina , sed saepius

bibenda . prodest e t inlita ex aceto , simi liter

plistolochia , quin omnino suspensa supra focum fugat

e domibus serpente s . LVI. argemonia quoque radice

e ius 3 denari i pondere in vini cyathis tribus pota .

plura de ea conv enit dici ceterisque , quando primum

nominabuntur, in eo autem genere medendi primum

nominari quamque in quo maxime v alebit . fol ia

habe t qua l ia anemone , divisa apii modo , caput in

cauliculo papav eris silv estris , item radicem , sucum

croci colore acrem e t acutum. nascitur in arvis . apud

nos tria genera e ius faciunt et id demum probant

cuius radix tus redoleat .

1sextario] ex vel in anteponere velit Mayhoff .

2 inponitur Detlef sen et M ayhoff reponitur Ianus, 115

coll . ponitur codd. De hac sententia locus nondum sanatus

scribit Mayhofl’

.

3radice e ius codd. radicis Mayhoff .

quandoDetlef sen quaM ayhoff : quo aut qm aut quoniamcodd.

3 item Detlef sen, Mayhof f, codd . Mayhojf coni. (ex Dioscoride) teretem.

2 1 0


LVII. Agaricum ut fungus nascitur arboribus

circa Bosporum colore candido. dantur oboli quattuorcontriti cum binis cyathis aceti mulsi . id quod inGal lia 1 nascitur infirmius habe tur, praeterea mas

spissior amariorque2— hic et capitis dolores facit

femina solutior, ini tio gustus dulcis mox in amaritudinem transit .

LVIII. Bohios utriusque generis 3 pule io simi l is ,foliis coronat 4 ; datur drachmi s duabus ex vini cyathis

quattuor .

5 item a ltera , quae lanugine distinguiturspinosa , cui et capitula v iperae simi lia sunt , haecex vino et aceto. qu idam echion personatam vocant

cu ius folio nu l lum est lat ius , grandes lappas ferentem .

huius radicem decoctam ex ace to dant potni . hyos

Gallia Detlef sen, M ayhojff , codd . : Galatia ex Dioscoride

S illig.

2spissior amariorque Detlef sen, M ayhoff, d. : spissiora

maiorque V maiorque spissiorque E3 Post generis lacunam sta tuit Ianus , nescio an recte.

coronat ; datur con i . M ayhoff , qui XXI . 52 , 54 conf ertcoronaria Detlef sen coronata (corinata V ) codd .

quattuor codd . et editores recentes quattuor datur vulg.

Dioscorides has Galatia , the Greek for Gan] .Praeterea is unexpected, and no emendation suggests

itself . Dioscorides does not help, because he and Plinydi ff er here so wide ly . The propterea of V seems a mere

error .

Dioscorides says this of both sexes yev’

ou

dpdo'

r epa Suma , Kar"cipxàs pèv yÀvxd€ovr a , elr a e

’

£ dva 3 0'

oew g

è'

pm xpa (III. I) . The tw o authorities might be made to agree

by putting a full stop at solutior, but then ama rior conflicts

w ith dulcis . This diffi culty might be av oided by readingma iorque spissiorque with E , but these words seem a scribe ’

s

correction of sp13 siorama iorque (V. which howev er Is surelya wrong division of spissior ama riorque, the reading in the

text .

2 1 2

BOOK XXV . LVII. 103—LVIII. 1 0 4

LVII. An agaric grows as a white fungus on tre e s Agaric.

around the Bosporus . A dose is four obol i crushedand tw o cyathi of oxyme l . The kind that grows inGaul “ is considered of inferior strength ; further,“

the ma le is firmer and more bitter— this kindcause s headache s— but the fema le is softer, and at

first its taste is sweet , but afterwards turns bitter.

“

LVIII. Bohios of e ither kind is l ike pennyroya l “ ; Bebias.

its foliage is u sed for chaple ts . The dose is tw odrachmae in four cyathi of wine ; likewise with thesecond kind , which is marked by a prickly down , and

also has little heads like a viper ’s this is taken in

wine and vinegar . Some give the name echios to

personata masked plant whose leaf is broaderthan that of any kind, f and which bears large burs .A decoction of the root of this is given with vinegar as a

The MSS . giv e no v ariant , and only Jan among the

editors thinks that something is wrong, or missing, here .

So I hav e done my best to make sense of Mayhoif’

s text , but

I suspect , w ith Jan , that there is a lacuna after generis . The

missing —words would be something giv ing the sense of

contra serpentes (aspida s ?) utilis . a ltera , is good for the

poison of snakes (asps The first kind is like etc.

” Perhapsa sleepy scribe w as led astray by the like endings of utilis

and similis . An altera to correspond to the item a ltera of the

next sentence is required, and some v ersions, includingLittré’s , assume its presence .

The translators, so far as I hav e seen, omi t item. I

think that it refers to the dosage , and means that the doseof the second kind is tw o drachmae of the herb to four cyathi

of liquid; only the latter, as w e see from the end of the sentence ,is wine and v in egar, not wine only .

f Apparently of any other kind of echios The Lat in ,

howev er , 111 any other context , would surely mean, than anyother leaf (of any which is absurd . Perhaps there isanother lacuna here . The text of this whole chapter is odd,and the last sentence , about henbane , seems out of place .


cyamum contusum cum folus ex vino datur pecul ia

riter contra aspidas .

LIX. Nul la tamen Romanae nobilitatis plus habet

quam hiera botane . aliqui arist ereon , nostri verben

acam vocant . haec est quam legatos ferre ad hoste s

indicav imus . hac Iovis mensa v erritur , domus

purgantur lustranturque . genera e ius duo sunt

fol iosa quam feminam putant , mas rarioribus folus .

ramu l i utriusque plures , tenue s , cubita le s , angulosi

fol ia minora quam quercus angustioraque , div isuris

maioribus , flos glaucus , radix longa , tenuis . nascitur

ubique in planis aquosis . quidam non distinguunt e t

unum omnino genus faciunt , quoniam utraque eosdem

e ff ectus habeat . utraque sortiuntur Gal l i e t prae

cinunt re sponsa , sed M agi utique circa hanc in

saniunt ; hac perunctos impetrare quae v e lint , febre s

abigere , amicitias concil iare nullique non morbo

mederi . colligi debere circa can is ortum ita ne

luna aut sol conspiciat , fav is ante et me l le terrae ad

piamentum datis , circumscriptam ferro e ffodi sinistra

manu e t in sublime tol l i , siccari in umbra separat im

folia , caulem ,radicem. aiunt , si aqua spargatur

See XXII. 5 .

Namely on the feasts of Jupiter.

Bostock and Riley translate as though hanc were under

stood before f ebres, but surely there is no insania in saying


triclinium qua1 maduerit ,

’

laetiores conv ictus fieri .adversus serpente s conteritur ex vino .

LX. Est simi lis verbasco herba quae saepe fallit proe a capta ,

foliis minus candidis , cauliculis pluribus , floreluteo . haec abiecta blattas in se contrahit ideoque

Romae blattaria vocatur.

LXI. Molemonium sucum lacteum mittit con

crescent em gumm ismodo , umidis locis . datur denariipondus in vino .

LXII. Quinque folium nul li ignotum est , cum etiamfraga gignendo commendetur , Graeci pentape tes

aut pentaphyllon aut chamaez e lon vocant . cume ffoditur , rubram habe t radicem . haec inarescensnigrescit et angulosa fit . nomen a numero foliorum .

e t ipsa herba incipit et desinit cum vite . adhibetur et

purgandis domibus .

LXIII. Adversus serpentes bibitur et e ius radix

quae sparganion v ocatur ex vino albo .

LXIV . B auci genera quattuor fecit Pe troniusDiodotus , quae persequi nihil at tinet , cum sintd iff erentiae duae , probatissimi in Creta, mox in

Achaia e t ubicumque in siccis nati , feniculi simi litudine , candidioribus foliis e t minoribus hirsutisque ,caule pedal i recto , radice suav issimi gustus e t odoris .

hoc in saxosis nascitur meridianis . re liqua generaubique nascuntur t errenis collibus limitibusque , nec

1 Ante qua add. in M ayhofl’

, qui XXIII . 5 140 , XXIV.

90 , XXVI . 529 conf eri.

This is a strange sentence , for eius should naturallyrefer to cinquefoil , described in the last Chapter. Jan in his

Index actually has“

sparganion quinquefolii radix 25 109 .

But sparganion is a plant , bur weed, of which Dioscoridesgiv es an accoun t . The last sentence of this runs : 8i8o7 a 1.

77 pi{a Ka l. o xapn og aù v ow cp 977pL0 817K1 0 L5‘

, IV. 2 1. The

sentence in Pliny seems to be a typical piece of carelessness.

2 16

BOOK XXV . LIX. 1 0 7—LXIV. 1 1 1

this plant has been soaked the entertainment become s merrier. As a remedy for snake bite s it iscrushed in wine .

LX. There is a plant l ike verbascum which isoften taken for it in error, but the le ave s are le ss pale ,

the stems are more numerous , and the blossom isye l low . When thrown away it attractsmoths to itse lf ,and for this reason at Rome it is cal led blattaria , or

moth verbascum .

LXI. Molemonium e xude s a mi lky juice whichthickens like gum . It grows in moist local itie s , thedose be ing one denarius given in wine .

LXII. Cinque foi l is known to everyone , be ingpopular for its actual ly producing Strawberries . The

Gre eks cal l it pentape tes , pentaphyllon , or chamaez e

lon . When it is dug up it has a red root , which as itdrie s be come s black and angular . The name isderived from the number of the leave s . The plantitse lf buds and sheds its leave s with the vine . It isalso used in purifying house s .

LXIII. For snake bite is also given in white winethe root of the plant that is cal led sparganion .

“

LXIV . Four kinds of daucus were distinguishedby Pe tron ius Diodotus . There is no point in g1v 1ngthe deta i ls of these , as there are but tw o specie s . The

most highly va lued grows in Crete , the next inAchaia and everywhere in dry districts it resemble sfenne l , but has paler, smaller and ha iry leave s , a

straight stem a foot high , and a root with a verypleasant taste and sme l l . This kind grows on

rocky soi ls that face the south . The other kindsgrow everywhere on earthy hil ls and cross - paths , but

See Index of Plants .

Blattar

Malanturn.

Cinque

Sparga

Daucu :

kinds.


nisi pingui solo,1 foliis coriandri , caule cubitali , capitibus rotundis , saepe pluribus quam ternis , radicelignosa et , cum inaruit , superv acua . semen huius

cumino simi le , prioris mi lio, album , acre , odoratumomnibus et ferv ens . se cundum priore v ehementius

est , ideoque parce sumi debet . s i iam maxime ter

tium genus facere lìbeat , est simi le staphylino, quod

pastinacam errat icam appe l lant , semine oblongo,

radice dulci . omn ia hae c e t bieme et aestate suntintacta quadripedi nisi post abortus . ex aliis ususseminis , ex Cretico radicis est , magis ad serpente s .

bibitur e vino drachma una , datur et quadripedibus

percussis .

LXV. Therionarca al ia quam magica et in nostroorbe nascitur fruticosa foliis subviridibus , flore roseo ,

serpentes mecat . cuicumque admota ferae et haectorporem adfert .

LXVI. Persolata ,

2 quam nemo ignorat , Graeci

arcion vocant , fol ia habe t maiora et iam cucurbitis et

hirsutiora nigrioraque et crassiora , radicem albam et

grandem . hae c ex vino bibitur denariorum duum

pondere . LXVII. item cyclamini radix contra ser

pentes omn e s . fol ia habet minora quam hedera ,

1 Post solo lacunam indica t M ayhojf , qui est unum ex his

vel est genus supple t.

persolata E , vulg. , Detlef sen persollata Ianus etMayhofl'

,

qui è 104 coll . personatam conicit.

Here w e hav e the singular huius , but in the precedingsentence reliqua genera . Mayhoff supposes that a phrase

meaning one of them has fallen out after solo. But

Pliny recognises only tw o kinds , the second of which, summingup the reliqua genera ,

may well be referred to by huius .

In this chapter Pliny is more than usually slipshod ; Fée

compares it unf av ourably with the corresponding passage in

Dioscorides .

2 18


nigrioraque e t t enuiora , sine angul is , in qu ibusalbicant macu lae , caule exiguo , inani , floribus pur

pure is , radice lata ut rapum v ideri possit , corticen igro . nascitur in umbrosis , a nostris tuber terraev ocatur , in omn ibus serenda domibus , si verum est ubi

sata sit n ihi l nocere mala medicamenta . amuletum

vocant , narrantque et ebrietatem repraesentari additaIn vinum. radix et siccata , scillae modo concisa re

poni tur . deeoquitur e adem ad crassitudinem me l lis ;suum tamen venenum ei est , traduntque , si praegnasradicem eam transgrediatur , abortum fieri .LXVIII. Est et a ltera cyclaminos cognomine

cissanthemos , geniculatis caulibus superv acuis a

priore distans , circa arbore s se v olv ens , acinis hederae ,sed mollibus , flore candido , specioso , radice superVacua . acini tantum in usu , gustu acre s e t lenti .siccantur in umbra tusique div iduntur in pastil los .LXIX . M ihi e t tertia cyclaminos demonstrata est

cognomine chamaecissos , uno omnino folio, radiceramosa , qua pisces necantur .

LXX. Sed inter prima ce lebratur peucedanum,

laudat issimum in Arcadia , mox Samothrace . caul isei t ennis , longus , fenicnlo simi lis , iuxta terram

foliosus , radice nigra , crassa , gravi odore , sucosa .

gignitur in montibus opacis , foditur exitu autumni .placent tenerrimae e t altissirh ae radices . hae con

ciduntur in quaternos digitos osseis cultellis fundunt

That is , earth truffle .

That is , ivy- flow ered.

That is , ground ivy .

BOOK XXV . LXVII. 1 14—LXX. 1 1 7

with white spots ; the stem is short and hol low , the

blossom purple , the root so broad that it might betaken for that of the turnip , and having a dark skin .

It grows in shaded spots , is cal led by our countrymen tuber terrae ,“ and ought to be grown in everyhome if it is true that wherever it grows no evi lspe l ls do any harm. They cal l it amu le t and

say that if it is added to wine intoxication comes atonce . The root is a lso dried , cut up fine as is donewith the squ i l l , and then stored away . This i sboi led down to the consistency of honey . It has

however a poisonous qual ity of its ow n , and it issa id that if a woman with child steps over this rootshe miscarries .

LXVIII. There is also another cyclamen with thesurname of cissanthemos ,

“ differing from the pre

ceding one in that it has jointed stems of no v alue ,winds itse lf round trees , and bears berrie s l ike thoseof ivy , only soft , and a handsome , white flower ;the root is of no value . The berrie s only are usedthe se are sharp to the taste

”

and sticky . They are

dried in the shade , crushed , and cut up into lozenge s .LXIX . A third kind of cyclamen has be en pointed

out to me with the surname of chamaecissos ,“ which

has on ly one leaf , and a branchy root fata l to fishes .

LXX. Among the most popular of plants ispeucedanum, the most e steemed kind of whichgrows in Arcadia ; next to this come s the one growingin Samothrace . Its stern is S lender, long , l ike fenne l ,and leafy ne ar the ground ; the root is dark , thick ,

ju icy , and with a strong sme ll . It grows on shadedmountains and is dug up at the close of autumn . The

tenderest and deepe st roots are the favourite s .The se are cut up with bone knive s into strips four

2 2 1

Peuceda


que sucum in umbra , capite prius et naribus rosaceo

perunctis , ne vertigo sentiatur . e t al ius suons inv enitur caulibus adhaerens incisisque mamans .

1

probatur crassitudine me l lea , colore rufo, odoresuav iter gravi , ferv ens gustu . hic in usu contraserpente s 2 et radix et decoctum e ius plurim is medicamentis, succ tamen e fficacissimo , qui resolvitur

amaris amygdal is ant ruta , bibiturque3e t ex olec

perunctos tuetur.

LXXI. Ebuli quoque , quam nemo ignorat , fumo

fugantur serpente s .

LXXII. Privatim adv ersatur scorpionibus polemoniae radix , v el adalligata tantum , item phalangicac ceteris minoribus v enenatis, scorpionibus aristolochia , agaricum obolis quattuor in vini mixti cyathistotidem, verbenaca et phalangic cum vino ant posca ,

item quinque folium , daucum.

LXXIII. Verbascum Graeci phlomon vocant . gen

era habet prima duo a lbum in quo mas intellegitur .

a lterum nigrum in quo femina . tertium genus nonnisi in silvis inv enitur. sunt fol ia brassicae latiora ,

1 incisisque manans Detlefsen incisi quoque manant

M ayhofi incisiqne manans aut manat codd.

2contra serpentes omittunt plerique codd. post ruta cum a

Detlef sen .

In cod. a scriptum est uriturque .

Grammatically a clumsy passage , the confusion beingincreased by the accidental omission of contra serpentes , its

in sertion in the margin , and re - insertion afterwards in the

wrong place . Plurimis medicamentis seems to be dative and

succ eflicacissimo ablativ e of description .


pilosa , caulis erectus , cubitali amplior. semenn igrum inutile , radix una , crassitudine digiti . rias

cuntur et in campestribus . silve stri folia e le lisphaci ,alta , ramis lignosis . LXXIV . sunt e t phlomides duachirsutae , rotundis foliis , humiles . tertia lychnitisv ocatur, ab a liis thryallis , foliis ternis aut cum plurimum quat ernis crassis pinguibusque , ad lucernarumlumina aptis . aiunt in foliis e ius quam feminamdiximus ficus omnino non putrescere . distinguigenera haec paene superv acuum est , cum sint omniae iusdem e ffectus . contra scorpiones bibitur radixcum ruta ex aqua , magna amaritudine sed e ffectu

pari .1

LXXV . Thelyphonon herba ab alus scorpion vocatur propter similitudinem radicis . cu ius tactu moriuntur scorpione s . itaque contra eorum ictus bibitur.

scorpionem mortuum si qu is he lleboro candidolinat , rev iv escere aiunt . thelyphonon omnem quadripedem mecat inposita v erendis radice ,

folio quidemintra eundem diem , quod est simi le cyclamino . ipsa

geniculata nascitur in opacis . scorpionibus adv er

satur et v ettonicae sucus ac plantaginis .LXXVI. Sunt e t ramis venema , rubetis maxime ,

v idimusque Psyllos in certamen e2patinis cande

1sed eff ectu pari Mayhojff cum plerisque codd . est effectu

pari puncto post amaritudine posito Detlefsen .

2certamen e Mayhoff certamine codd.

The lamp plant .

The wick plant .

It seems impossible to decide whether or or and is

the right word here .

An Obscure sentence . The Psylli were a north -Africantribe , snake - charmers, and supposed to be immune to poisons .

The hot pans were to irritate the toads. The reading cande

facta s perhaps is due to the need of an object to admittentes .

2 2 4

BOOK XXV . LXXIII. 1 2 0 —LXXVI. 1 2 3

are broader than those of cabbage , and ha iry ; thestem is upright , and more than a cubit high . The

seed is black and of no use . The root is single , and of

the thickne ss of a finger . The plants a lso grow in

flat country . Wild verbascum has leave s l ikethose of e le lisphacus and tal l,while the branche s areof a woody texture . LXXIV . There are also tw o Phlomq

sorts of phlomis , both shaggy and with round leaves ,growing ne ar the ground . A third is cal ledlychnitis ,“ by some thryallis it has thre e or at

most four leaves , which are thick and fl eshy, and

suitable for lamp wicks . It is sa id that , placed inthe leaves of the kind w e have cal led female , a fig doesnot even begin to go bad. It is almost superfluousto distingu ish the se various kinds , because they all

have the same propertie s . A draught for the stingof scorpions is made from the root and rue in water,which is as eflicaci0us as it is bitter .

LXXV . Thelyphonon is a plant cal led scorpion Thelyv

by some be cause its root has the shape of one . Amm'

mere touch of it kil ls scorpions , and so it is taken indrink for the ir stings . It is said that a dead scorpion ,

if smeared with white he l lebore , come s to l ife aga in .

The lyphonon kills eve ry kind of quadruped if itsroot be applied to the gen itals , the leaf indeed , whichis l ike that of cyclamen , does so be fore the end of the

same day . The plant itse lf 1s jo1nt ed , and grows inshaded place s . Good for scorpion bite is the ju ice of

betony or plantain .

LXXVI. Frogs too have the ir poisons , bramble Remedi

toads a virulent one , and I have seen Psylli puttingthem to a conte st loosed from heated pans ,“ and

My addi tion of eas implies that candefactis eas has been

telescoped by a scribe into candefacta s .

VOL. VII.


factis 1 eas 2 admittentes , ociore etiam quam 3a 3pidum

pernicie . auxiliatur phrynion in vino pota . aliqui

neurada appe l lant, al ii poterion ,

‘1 floribus parvis ,radicibus mu ltis , nervosis , bene olent ibus . LXXVII.

item al isma ,

5 quam al ii damasonion , alii lyronappe l lant . fol ia erant plantaginis , nisi angustiora

e ssent et magis laciniosa conv exaque in terram, aliasetiam venosa simi l iter , caule simplici, tenui , cubital i ,capite thyrsi , radicibus densis , tenuibus ut veratrin igri , acribus , odoratis , pinguibus . nascitur in

aquosis. alterum genus e iusdem in silvis ,6 nigrius ,

maioribus foliis . in usu radice s utriusque adversusranas e t lepores marinos drachmae pondere in vinipotu . lepori marino adv ersatur et cyclaminos .

v eneni v im cani s quoque rabidi morsus habent , contraquos erit cynorrhodum , de quo diximus , plantago,

e t ad omnes bestiarum morsus , pota atque inlita ,

vettoni ca ex mero vetere .

LXXVIII. Peristereos v ocatur caule a lto foliato ,

cacumine in al ios caule s se spargens , columbis admod

um fami liaris , unde et nomen . hanc habentes

negant latrari a canibus .

LXXIX . Proxima ab his mal is v enena sunt quaesibimet ipsis homine s excogitant . contra haec

1candefactis V2 , Mayhofl candefactas V1Rd vulg

Detlef sen .

2eas ego add. : omittunt codd .

3quam add. Warmington .

poterion Hermolaus Barbarus ex Dioscoride : potireton

V R Detlef sen2polyrrhi z on vu lg. , Detlef sen.

alisma H ermolaus Barbarus ex Dioscoride : alcima codd. ,

vulg. , M ayhojff. ulv is Fournier.

2 2 6


omniamagicasque arte s erit primum i llud Homericum

moly , de in M ithridatia ac scordotis .

1e t centaurium

potu omnia ma la medicamenta exigit per alvum ,

v e ttonicae semen in mu lso aut passo , v e l farinadrachma in vini v eteris cyathis quattuor ; vomere

cogendi atque iterum bibere . i is qui cotidie gustente am nu l la nocitura mala medi camenta tradunt . potoveneno aristolochia subv enit eadem mensura qua con

tra serpentes , quinque folii sucus , agaricum , postquamvomuerint , denarii pondere ex aquae mulsae cyathis

tribus .

LXXX . Antirrinum v ocatur sive pararinon 2 lychnisagria simi le l ino , radice nu lla , flore hyacinthi , seminev ituli narium . e t 3 hoc perunctos v enustiores fieri necu l lo malo medicamento laedi posse , ant si qu is id inbracchiali habe at , arbitrantur M agi . LXXXI. simi liter e a quam eupliam v ocant traduntqne ea perunctos

commendatioris e sse famae . artemisiam quoquesecum habentibus negant nocere mala medicamentaaut best iam nllam, ne sole1n quidem. bibitur et

hae c ex vino adversus opium . alga 4 privatim potenstraditur , potatur e t adversus ranas .

LXXXII. Pericarpum bulbi genus est . duae

e ius species : cortice rubro a lterum, alterum nigropapaveri s imi le , sed vis ma ior quam priori , utrique

1 S ic dist. lll ayhojj‘.

2pararinon a

, Detlef sen : anarrinon S itlig post HermolaumBarba rum, M ayhoff paranarrhinon Ianus : varia codd. sed

anarrinon Index Plinianus .

3et M ayhofl

"

post Caesarium ex codd .

algaDetlefsen aleimaMayhoff alligata vulg. algam codd.

See Odyssey X . 3 05 .

See 6 of this book. The reference may be to the plantmithridat ia of 5 62 .

2 2 8

BOOK XXV . LXXIX. 1 2 7—LXXXII. 1 3 1

for all the se and for sorcerie s wi l l be found in the

famous moly of Horner , which is the be st , next theantidotes of M ithridate s ,“ and a lso scordotis . Cen

tanry too taken in drink evacuates by stool all

poisonous drugs , as does the se ed of betony taken inhoney wine or in raisin wine , or drachma dose s of thepowdermay be taken in four cyathi of oldwine but the

patients must be made to vomit and take a seconddraught . It is sa id that those w ho take this powderevery day w i l l not be hurt by any noxious drugs .When poison has be en drunk he lp is given by aristolochia , the dose be ing the same as for snake bite s , bythe juice of cinque foi l , and by agaric taken afterprevious vomiting , the dose be ing a denarius bywe ight in three cyathi of hydrome l .LXXX . Antirrinum or pararinon is the name

given to wild lychnis , a plant like flax , having no

root , a flower l ike that of the hyacinthus , and seedlike the muzzle of a ca lf . The Magi hold that thoserubbed with it improve in beauty and can be hurt byno noxious drug l ikewise if anyone wear it on the armas an amulet . LXXXI. They say the same of the

plant they cal l euplia , and maintain that thoserubbed with it w in a finer reputation . They also saythat those carrying artemisia about them are not hurtby noxious drugs , or by any wild beast , and not

even by the sun . This plant is a lso taken in wine tocounteract the e ffects of opium . Seawe ed is said tobe a spe cific , and it is also taken in drink for

the poison of frogs .

LXXXII. Pericarpum is a kind of bulb . Thereare tw o spe cie s of it ; one has a red outer skin , the

other is l ike the dark poppy , but its propertie s are

stronger than those of the former ; both however


autem excalfaciendo.

1 ideo contra cicutam datur,contra quam e t tus et panaces , chironium praecipue .

hoc et contra fungos .

LXXXIII. Verum et generatim membratimque

singulis corporum morbis remedia subtexemus orsi acapite . a lopecias emendat nymphaeae Heracliae 2

radix , sive cum pice sive una 3ea trita 4 inlinantur .

polythrix distat a cal litriche quod iuncos albos habe te t folia plura maioraque . frutice quoque maior est ,

defluentem capillum confirmat e t densat . LXXXIV .

item lingulaca circa fonte s nascens , cuius radix ad

mi xta combusta teritur cum adipe su is n igrae , idquoque excipitur , ut e ius su is quae numquam peperitsol de inde plurimum confert inlitae . simi lis ususest cyclamini radicis . porriginem veratri radix tollitin oleo decocta v e l in aqua . capitis dolori medetur

panacis omnium generum radi x in oleo contrita ,aristolochia , hiberis adalligata hora v el diutius , si pati

possit , comitant e balinei usu . medetur e t daucum.

purgat autem et cyclaminos cum me l le in nares addita , e t u lcera capitis sanat inlita . medetur et

perist ereos .

LXXXV. Cacal ia 5 sive leontice vocatur semen

margaritis minutis simi le dependens inter fol ia

grandia , in montibns fere . huius grana XV in oleo

1 excalf aciendo codd. , Detlef sen : in excalfaciendo 0 . F . W.

M Liller, M ayhojf .

2 Heracliae S illig, M ayhofl"

e lacte Detlef sen : et cicutasvulg. : lacitae aut lacite aut ea cute codd.

3siv e cum pice siv e una ego : siv e una (cum lacuna )

lll ayhofi“

, qu i cum pice siv e per se ex Dioscoride supplet

siv ev a plerique codd.

trita Ianus , Detl efsen , M ayhofi tritae (trite ) codd .

cacaliae coni. Mayhofi fortasse omissum cui ante semen.

13 6

13 7

13 8


macerantur atque ita adversus capil los 1 caputinungitur .

LXXXVI. Fit e t ex callitriche sternum entum.

folia sunt lenticulae , °

caules iunci t enuissimi radiceminima . nascitur opacis et um idis , gustatu f erv ens .

LXXXVII. Hysopum in oleo contritum phthiriasi

resistit et prurigini in capite . est autem optimum

Cilicium e Tauro monte , de in Pamphylium ac

Z myrnaeum. stomacho contrarium purgat cum fico

sumptum per inferna , cum me l le vomitionibus .

putant et serpentium ictibus adv ersari tritum cumme l le e t sa le e t cumino .

LXXXVIII. Lonchi tis non , ut plerique existima

v erunt , eadem est quae xiphion aut phasganion ,

quamquam cuspidi simi lis semin e : habet enim fol iaporri rubentia ad radicem et plura quam in caule ,capitu la personis comicis simi l ia , parv am exserent ibus

l ingnam , radi cibus praelongis . nascitur in sitientibus .

LXXXIX . e diverso xiphion et phasganion in umidis .

cum primum e xit , gladii praebet speciem cau leduum cubitorum , radice ad nucis abe llanae figur amfimbriata , quam e ffodi ante me sse s oport et , siccari inumbra . superior pars e ius cum ture trita , aequo pondere admixto vino , ossa fracta capite 2 extrahit aut

quicquid in corpore suppurat , v e l si ca lcata sint ossa13 9 serpent is eadem contra venema e fficax . caput in

1adv ersus capillos a, Detlef sen : adv erso capillo esteri

codd M ayhojf .

2 M ayhoff (Appendix ) e add .

I hav e translated Mayhofi’

s text without any confidence

that it is correct , nor is Detlefsen’

s , w ith a comma be fore , not

af ter, serpentis , any more attractiv e , for Plin y ’

s usual phrase iscontra serpentes. But cf . XXIV 61. The position of

serpentis and the plural veneno are other obj ections . Now

ossa serpentis is odd . My friend Mr. John Chadw ick te lls me2 3 2

BOOK XXV . LXXXV. I 3 S—LXXXIX. 13 9

this the head is rubbed in the contrary w ay to the

hair .

LXXXVI. From cal l ithrix a lso i s made a snuff .

This plant has the leave s of the lenti l ; the stems arevery slender rushe s and the root is very smal l . It

grows in shady moist place s , and has a hot taste .

LXXXVII. Hyssop crushed in oil is good for

phthiriasis and itch on the scalp . The be st comes

from Mount Taurus in Cilicia , the next be st fromI’amphylia and Smyrna . Upsetting the stomach , itpurges by stool if taken with figs , by vomitings iftaken with honey . Pounded with honey , salt , and

cummin it is also supposed to counteract the poisonof snake bite s .

LXXXVIII. Lonchitis is not , as most people havethought , the same plant as xiphion or phasganion ,

a lthough the se ed is l ike a spear point ; for it hasleave s l ike those of the leek , reddish near the root andmore numerous than 0 11 the stern , little heads like themasks of comedy whichput out a small tongne ,andverylong roots . It g1 0 w s in thirsty soi ls . (LXXXIX .)Xiphion or phasganion on the other hand grows inmoist soi ls . When it first leave s the ground itpre sents the appe arance of a sword , has a stem tw o

cubits high , and a fringed root l ike a filbert , whichmust be dug up be fore harve st and dried in the shade .

The upper part of it , beaten upwith frankincense andmixed with an equa l quantity by we ight of wine ,extracts bone splinters from the head and all suppurating matter in the body , or any snake bone sthat have been trodden on ; the plant a lsocounteracts poison s .“ Headache is re lieved by

that a snake’

s skeleton would make a nasty wound if troddenon. That may be so, but would a person wearing sandals

2 3 3


dolore veratro in oleo v e l rosaceo decocto tritoque

ungui conv enit , peucedano ex oleo v e l rosaceo et

aceto . t epidum hoc prodest et doloribus qui plerum

que ex dimidia parte capitis sentiuntur e t vertigini .

perungunt et radice e ius sudoris causa e liciendi,quon iam caustica vis ei est .

XC . Psyllion al ii cynoides , al ii crystallion , aliisice licon , a l ii cynomyiam appe llant , radice tenu isuperv acua , sarmentosum , fabae grani s in cacuminibus , foliis canino capiti non dissimilibus , semineautem pul ici , unde e t nomen . hoc in bacis , ipsa herbain vincis inv enitur. vis ad refrigerandum et discutiendum ingens . semen in usu . fronti inponiturin dolore e t temporibus ex aceto et rosaceo aut posca .

ad cetera inlinitur . acetabul i mensura sextariumaquae densat ac contrahit ; tune terere oportet et

crassitudinem inlinere cuicumque dolori et collectioniinflammationique . v ulneribus capitismedetur ari stolochia , fracta extrahens ossa et in a l ia quidem partecorporis sed maxime capite , simi liter plistolochia .

thryselinum est non dissimi le apio . huins radixcommanducata purgat capitis pitu itas .

XCI. O culorum aciem centauric maiore putant

adiuv ari si addita aqua fov eantur , succ verominoris cum me l le cul ices , nubeculas , obscuritates

often cut himself on a snake’

s skeleton ? He might howev ereasily run a thorn into his foot during a cross coun try walk.

The corresponding passage in Dioscorides (IV 20) has a’

ua'

8asKa l. oxoÀorra 9 «s

’

ma rra aflm. It Is conjectural, but just possible ,that serpent is has replaced an original sp ina because the ossa

of the first clause of this sentence w as repeated a little late r onunconsciously by a careless scribe . Then the sense would beif a thorn has been trodden on .

”

All this is so conjectural that I do not fee l justified inchanging the text .

2 3 4


di scuti , cicatrice s extenuari, albugines quidem etiamiumentorum sideritide . nam che lidonia supra dictisomnibusmiremedetur . panacis radicem cum polentaepiphoris inponunt . hyoscyami semen et bibunt

Obolo , tantnndem meconii adicient es vinnmque ad

piphoras inhibendas . inungunt e t gentianae sucumquem collyr iis quoque acrioribus pro meconiomiscent . facit claritat em et euphorbeum inunctis .

instillatur plantaginis sucus l ippitudini . ca ligine sari stolochia discut it , hiberis adalligata capiti , quin

que folium . epiphoras e t si qua in coul is vitia suntemendat verbascum. epiphoris inponitur perist ereos

ex rosaceo v e l ace to . ad hypochysis et cal iginemcyclamini

1 pastil los diluunt , peucedani sucum , ut

diximus , ad claritat em et cal igines cum me conio e t

rosaceo. psyllion inlitum fronti epiphoras suspendit .XCII. Anagallida aliqui acoron

2v ocant . du

'

o

genera e ius : mas flore phoeniceo, femina caeruleo,

non altiore s palmo , frutice tenero, foliis pusillis

rotundis , in terra iacentibus . nascuntur in hort is et

aquosis . prior floret caerule a . utr iusque sucus

oculorum caliginem discutit cum me lle et ex ictu

1cyclamini d T,

M ayhofi cyclameni V R : cyclamen in E ,

Detlef sen .

2acoron E 1)n Detlefsen, M ayhojf corchoron Hermolaus

Barbarus e Dioscoride .

The Plinian us e of nam sed.

In this part of the text the punctuation of Mayhoff has

been adopted .

Hypochysis is a Greek accus ativ e plural .A v erb seems to be missing here . Mayhofi

'

suggests et

inlinunt.

2 3 6

BOOK XXV . XCI. I4 Z—XCII. 144

removed , cloudiness and films are dispersed , and

scars smoothed out ; a lso that albugo even of

draught an imals is made be tter by sideritis . But

che lidonia is a wonderful cure for all the abovementioned eye trouble s . The root of panace s withpearl barley is applied to the eye s for fluxes . For

che cking such fluxes the se ed of henbane is taken inw ine in doses of an obolus with the same amount ofpoppy juice . Juice of gentian too is used as ointment , and it is also used inste ad of poppy juice as an

ingredient of the more pungent eye sa lve s . Euphor

beum too improve s the vision of those whose eye s areanointed with it . The ju ice of the plantain isdropped into the eye s for ophthalmia . Films are dis

persed by aristolochia , by hiberis attached to the

he ad , and by cinque foil .“ Fluxe s and eye- disease s

general ly are made be tter by verbascum. To fluxes

is applied perist ereos in rose oil or vinegar. For cataract “ and film lozenge s of cyclamen are dissolved( and the ju ice of peucedanum, as w e

have said , poppy juice and rose oil be ing added , isgood for improving the vision and for films . Psyllion

'

rubbed on the forehead arrests fluxes.

XCII. Some ca l l the anagal l is , acoron . There are

tw o kinds of it : the ma le with a scarlet flower, andthe fema le with a blue one ; ne ither is more than a

span in he ight , the stem be ing tender , and the leave stiny , round and lying on the ground . They grow ingardens and on moist ground . The blue - flow ered

kind blossoms first . The ju ice of e ither kind , appliedwith honey , disperse s film 0 11 the eye s , suffusions ofblo

'

od from a blow , and reddish argema the re sults

For argema , a small white ulcer, see list of diseases.

2 3 7


cruorem e t argema rubens , magis cum Attico me l leinunct is . pupillas dilatat , et ideo hac inunguntur

ante quibus paracentesis fit . iumentorum quoqueoculis medentur . suons caput purgat per naresinfusus , ita ut de inde vino colluatur. bibitur e t

contra angue s suci drachma in vino. mirum quodfeminam pe cora v itant aut , si decepta simi litudineflore enim tantum distant— degustav ere , statim e am

quae asyla appe llatur in remedium 1quaerunt . a

nost ris fe l is oculus 2 vocatur. praecipiunt aliqui

e ffossuris ante sol is ortum, priusquam quicquam

a l iud loquantur, salutare eam, sublatam exprimere ,

ita praecipnas e sse vires . de euphorbeae succ satisdictum est . lippitndini, si tumor erit , absinthiumcum me l le tritum , item 3 v ettonicae farina conv enie t .

XCIII. Aegilopas sanat herba eodem nomine quaein hordeo nascitur , tritici fol io , semine contrito cum

farina permixta inpositaque v e l succ . exprimitur

hic e caule foliisque praegnant ibus dempta spica e t

in trimestri farina digeritur in pastil los .

1remedium (i .e. remediu) Mayhojff remedia Detlef sen ,

codd. remedio vulg.

2 felis oculus Detlef sen , M ayhoff ferus oculus vulg. fe lixoculus Urlichs feris oculis codd .

3 item E Detlef sen item cumplerique codd . et M ayhojj“

, qui

la cunam post cum indiout, excidisse pu ta t v ino. Brakrnan

supplet v etere mero.

The subject of colluatur is apparently s aous . The subjectof passiv e colluo is normally the thing cleansed (nose), not the

2 3 8


XCIV . Aliqui1et mandragora ut ebantur ; poste a

abdicatus est in hac curat ione . epiphoris , quodcertum est , medetur e t oculorum dolori radix tusacum rosaceo e t vino . nam suons mu ltis oculorum

medicamentis miscetur. mandragoran alii circaeon

vocant . duo e ius genera ; candidus qui et mas, niger

qui femina existimatur, angustioribus quam lactucae

foliis , hirsutis et caulibus , radicibus bini s t ernisv erufulis,

2 intus albis , carnosis t enerisque , paemecubitalibus . ferunt mala abellanarum nucum magnitudine e t in his semen cen pirorum . hoc albo al iiarsena , al i i morion ,

a li i hippophlomon v ocant . huius

fol ia alba , alterius? lat iora ut lapathi sativae .

e ffossuri cavent contrarium v entum et tribus circulisante gladio circumscribnnt , postea fodiunt ad

occasum spectant es. suons fit et e malis et caulede ciso cacumine e t e radice pnnct is aperta aut

de cocta . utili s haec v e l surculo. concisa quoque inorbiculos serv atur in vino. sucus non ubique in

1aliqui codd . antiqui M ayhofi , qui 53 7, 53 , 57 , XX 52

,

XXIII 9 7 , 13 9 , a lias locos conf ert.2rufulis plerique codd . , Detlefsen, M ayhoff nigris foris (e

Dioscoride) Hermolaus Barbarus .

3 Post alterius supplet (e Dioscoride) foliis M ayhojj"quam

alterius Hermolaus Barbarus .

Mayhcfi’

s emendation would mean of Old,”

in earlydays .

”

Nam here seems to .be used in its Plinian sense , but the

ordin ary meaning of for woul d not spoil the logic of the

passage .

The nigris foris , black out side , of Hermolaus Barbarus,w as suggested by Dioscorides IV. 75, p.e

’

Àaw m Ka 7'à 7 1

’

7v e’

q d

BOOK XXV . xc1v . 147—149

XCIV . Some physicians used to employ the M andr

mandrake a lso ; afterwards it w as discarded as a £îc” he

medicine for the eye s . What is certa in is that thepounded root , with rose oil and wine , cures fluxesand pain in the eye s . But the j uice is used as an

ingredient in many eye remedie s . Some give the

name circaeon to the mandrake . There are tw o

kinds of it : the white , which is a lso considered ma le ,

and the black , considered female . The leave s are

narrower than those of lettuce , the stems hairy , and

the roots , tw o or thre e in number, reddish ,c white

inside , fle sby and tender , and almost a cubit in length .

They bear fruit of the size of filberts , and in the se are

se eds like the pips of pears . When the se ed is

white the plant is cal led by some arsen ,d by others

morion , and by others hippophlomos . The leaves ofthis mandrake are whitish , broader than those of the

other ,e and like those of cultivated lapathum . The

diggers avoid facing the w ind , first trace round theplant thre e circle s with a sword , and then do the ir digging while facing the we st . The ju ice can a lso be ob

tained from the fruit , from the stem, after cutting off

the top, and from the root , which is Opened by pricksor boi led down to a decoction . Even the shoot of itsroot can be used , and the root is a lso cut into roundslice s and kept in wine . The ju ice is not found

va a v , è'

v‘ò‘

of kv Àew ca z'

. But ev en if foris can represent Ka'rò.

n‘

yv e’

m gbdva a v , nigris foris w as most unl ikely to be cor

rupted to rufulis . The word p.e’

Àas often means of the

colour of port wine ,”and rufulus is not v ery far away from

that .

“Male , Greek à’pcrq v. Fée thinks that themorion w as not

the mandrake but A tropa belladonna .

Aft er a lterius w e can understand foln s . It is not necessaryto insert it , nor to add quam before alterius .


v enitur sed, ubi pote st , circa v indemias quaeritur.

odor gravis e i , se t1radicis e t mali grav ior ex albo.

ma la matura in umbra siccantur . sucus ex his soledensatur , item radicis tusae v e l in vino n igro ad

tertias decoctae . folia serv antur in muria , e fficacius

albi . 2 rore tactorum 3sucus pe stis est . sic quoque

noxiae vires . grav edinem adferunt etiam olfactu,

quamquam mala in aliquis terris manduntur, nimiotamen odore obmutescunt ignari , potu quidemlargiore e tiam moriuntur . vis somnifica pro v iribus

bibentium. media potio cyathi unius . bibitur et

contra serpente s et ante sectione s punctionesque , nesentiantur . ob hae c satis est aliquis somnum odore

quaesisse . bibitur e t pro he lleboro duobus obolis in

mu lso 4— efficacius helleborum— ad v omitiones et ad

bilem nigram extrahendam .

1ei, set Detlefsen pos t Hard. et cod. Da l. ; ei, ut et M ayhoff

eius et codd .

2efiì cacius albi. rore Urlichs et Detlef sen eflicacius ;

salsus rore fil ayhoff albus non albi codd.

3 tactorum Detlef sen : tantum M ayhofl'

, codd. : pro rore

tantum coni . rorulenti Urlichs .

4 S ic distinxit Mayhojf .

Dioscorides, IV. 75 (Wellmann ) has : é'

on Sè Év €pye'

a*

r epog

7 0 6 6770 6 O'

xvÀés . OGK €v 7ra v rì. 5% « imp <f>e'

pov aw o’

nòv a i ;5Z{avòvro$ a

’

xvv o c Bè v o'

v ocozî roi n eîpa . Our tw o authorities difi erhere ; there seems nothing in Pliny to correspond to 15w eîpa .

What w e call red wine .

Urlich’

s emendation would giv e roughly the same sense ;

Mayhofl’

s would mean“

more effectiv ely in brine ; juicemerely salted by the dew is deadly . Mayhofi

'

compares ros

salsas XXVIIQ but the emendation is not happy . I think

that rare . es t is really a parenthesis . If so,sw is much

more natural.Possibly, Its power to induce sleep depends upon the

resistance (reaction ?) of the patient .

”

2 4 2


XCV . Cicuta quoque venenum est , publicaAtheniensium poena invisa ,

ad mu lta tamen usus nonomi tt endi. semen habe t noxium , caul is autem e t

vir idis e stur a plerisque et in patinis . levis hic e t

geni culatus ut calami , nigricans , altior saepe bini scubitis , in cacuminibus ramosus , fol ia coriandri

t eneriora , gravi odoratu ,1 semen aneso crassius , radix

concava , nu l lius usus . semini et foliis re frigeratoria

vis , sic et necat . incipiunt algere ab extremitat ibus

corporis . remedio est , priusquam ad vital ia per

v eniat , vini natura excalfactoria . sed in vino potainremediabilis existit . sucus exprimitur foliis floribusque , tum enim maxime t empest ivus e st .

2 me l iorsemine trito expressus e t sole densatus in pasti l los .

mecat sangu inem spissanda— hae c a ltera vis— et ideo

sic n ecatorum maculae in corporibus apparent . ad

dissolv enda medi camenta utuntur i llo pro aqua .

fit ex eo e t ad re frigerandum stomachum malagma .

praecipuus tamen est ad cohibendas epiphorasaestiv as oculorumque dolores sedandos circumlitus .

3

miscetur collyriis , et alias 4 omn e s rheumatismos co

hibe t . fol ia quoque tumorem omnem doloremque

e t epiphoras sedant . Anaxi laus auctor est mammasa virginitate inlitas semper staturas . quod certum

gravi odoratu plerique codd . , Detlef sen : grav ia M ayhofl ,

qu z grav 1ora com .

2 Ab est usque ad ideo sic distinguit M ayhofi , qui vis ei

pro v is — e t scribit.3circumli tus E v ul g. , M ayhoff circumlitu Ianus , Det

l

efsen : circumlitum multi codd .

4alias S illig, Detlef sen, M ayhoff alios codd .

BOOK XXV . xcv . 1 51—1 54

XCV . Hemlock too is poisonous , a plant with a Hemlo

bad name because the Athen ians made it the irinstrument of capital pun ishment , but its uses formany purpose s must not be passed by . It has a

poisonous se ed but the stem is eaten by manyboth as a salad and when cooked in a saucepan .

This stem i s smooth , and jointed like a re ed , of a darkcolour, often more than tw o cubits high , and branchyat the top the leave s re semble those of coriander ,but are more tender , and of a strong sme l l ; the se ed iscoarser than that of ani se , the root hol low and of no

use . The se ed and leave s have a chil ling quality , and

it is this that cause s death ; the body begins to growcold at the extremitie s . The remedy lie s in using thewarming nature of wine be fore the vital parts are

reached ; but taken in wine hemlock i s invariablyfatal . A ju ice is extracted from the leave s and

blossom , for the be st time to do so is when the

hemlock is in flower . A be tter ju ice is extractedfrom the crushed se ed and thickened in the sun for

making into lozenge s . It cause s death by thickening the blood— this is its other outstanding property— and for this reason spots are to be se en on the

bodies of those w ho have been kil led in this w ay.

This juice i s used instead of water as a solventfor drugs . There is also made from it a poultice tocool the stomach . Its chief use however is - as a loca lapplication round the eye s to check summer fluxes

and to al lay pains in them . It forms an ingredientof eye salve s , and it checks all catarrhs genera l ly .

The leaves a lso re lieve every kind of swe l ling , pa in or

fiux. Anaxilaus is re sponsible for the statement thatif the breasts are rubbed with hemlock from adultmaidenhood onwards they wi l l always remain firm.


e st , lac puerperarum mammis inposita extinguit

v en eremque t est ibus circa pubert at em inlita .

remedia in 1 qu ibus bibenda censetur non equidem

praeceperim. vi s maxima natae Susis Parthorum ,

mox Laconicae , Creticae , Asiaticae , in Graecia veroM egaricae , de inde Att icae .

XCVI. Cremnos agrios gremias tollit oculorum

inpositus , tumorem quoque polenta addita .

XCVII. Nascitur vu lgo molybdaena , id est plumbago , etiam in arvo , fol io lapathi , cras sa , hispida .

hac commanducata si oculus subinde lingatur, plumbum , quod est genus v itii , ex oculo tollitur.

XCVIII. Capnos trunca ,

2 quam pede s gallmac1os

v ocant , nascens in parietinis et saepibus , ramist enuissimi s sparsisque , fiore purpureo, folio 3 viridi ,suco caliginem discutit , itaque in medicamenta

oculorum additur.

XCIX . Simi l is et nomine et efl'

ectu sed al ia est

capnos fruticosa , praet enera , foliis coriandri , cineracei coloris , flore purpureo . nascitur in hort is et

1remedia in M ayhoff remedio Detlef sen : remedia multi

codd .

2 trun ca Ianus , Detlef sen, M ayhoff truma aut truna codd

prima vulg .

3 folio viri di con M ayhojff viridis Detlef sen, M ayhoff intextu, codd .

Although there is no trace of it in the MSS, radice seems tohav e fallen out either before or after cras sa . The former

woul d giv e w i th a thick and hairy root , the latterhairy and with a thi ck root .

That is , rubbed light ly . But Pliny may mean that the

person giving the treatment should chew a w ad of the plant ,pausing now and then to lick the patient

’

s eye . One mightemend to dl fìlnî l ‘éfl '

, but it is very unlikely that so common a

2 46


segetibus hordeacis . claritat em facit inunctis coulisde lacrimationemque ceu fumus , unde nomen .

eadem ev olsas palpebras renas ci probibet .

C . Acoron iridis folia habet , angust iora tantum e t

longiore pediculo , radices nigras minusque venosas ,ce t ero et has simi les iridis , gustu acres , odore non

ingratas , ructu facile s . optumae Daspe tiacae1

e

Galatia , mcx Creticae , sed plurimae in Colobideiuxta Phasin amn em e t ubicumque in aquosis .

recentibus virus maius quam v e tustis , Creticae

candidiores Ponticis . siccantur, ut iris ,2 in umbradigitalibus frustis . nec non inv eniuntur qui oxymyr

sinae radicem acoron v ocant , ideoque quidam hancacorion vocare malunt . vis e i ad calfaciendumextenuandumque efiicax ,

3 contra suffusiones e t

cal igine s oculorum, suco eiusdem poto contrase rpente s .Cl . Cotyledon parvu la herba est in cauliculo tenero,

pusil lo folio ,

4 pingui , concavo ut coxendi ces . nascitur

in maritimis petrosisque vir idi s5; radice olivae modo

rotunda . oculis mede tur suco . est a l iud genuse iusdem sordidis foliis, latioribus densioribusque

circa radicem ve lut oculum cingentibus , asperrimi

1 Daspetiacae Ianus , Detlef sen,M ayhofi Daspetiace V

Daspetice d Daepetiace R Despe i2ut iris M ayhoff v ere Detlef sen utris codd .

3 Comma non post sed ante efficax pon it M ayhofi'

.

4 folio Dioscoride add . Hermolaus Ba rbarus .

5v iridis DeiLgfsen, codd . , vulg. umidis fll ayhoff .

The Greek for smoke is Ka 7rvo'

s .

Apparently not know n . Pliny seems to have w roneread some Greek word or words .

The ad j ectiv e viridis is nearly always used of a clean, fresh

green. Cf . vireo and contra-st sordidis a litt le lower down .

2 48

BOOK XXV . xcix. 1 56—c1 . 1 59

gardens and crops of barley . Used as ointment forthe eye s it improve s the vision and, like smoke , produce s tears , and to this fact it owe s its name .

a It

a lso prevents eye lashe s that have been pul led out

from growing again .

C . Acoron has the leave s of the iris , only narrowerand with a longer foot - stalk ; it has dark roots and

le ss ve ined , though in other re spe cts these too are

like those of the iris , pungent to the taste , with a not

unple asant sme l l , and carminative . The be st come

fromTDaspe tosT in Galatia , then come Cretan roots ,but they are found most abundantly in Colchis nearthe river Phasis and wherever there are waterydistricts . Fre sh roots have a stronger sme l l thanstale , and the Cretan are pa ler than those of Pontus .They , l ike the iris , are dried in the shade in slice s afinger in length . There are to be found those w ho

give the name of acoron to the root of oxymyrsine , andfor this reason some pre fer to cal l this plant acorion .

It has powerful propertie s as a calorific and discutient , is good for cataract and dimne ss of the eye s ,and its juice is taken internal ly for snake bite s .CI. The cotyledon i s a tiny plant on a tender

little stem , with a very sma ll fle sby leaf , which isconcave l ike the hip joint . It grows in maritime and

rocky place s , fre sh gre en C in colour, and with a rootthat is oval l ike an ol ive . The ju ice is medicinefor the eye s . There is another kind of cotyledonwith dirty—gre en le ave s , which are broader and closertogether than those of the other , spread round theroot as though it were an eye

d; the taste is very

Perhaps here a bud, with the sepals surrounding it . But

Littré has entourée comme l’oeil l’est de l’orbite .

Aaaron

the eyes

Cotyled<the eyes.


gustus , longiore caule , sed pergracili. usus ad

eadem quae iridi .1

CH . aiz oi duo genera : maius in fictilibus v asculis

seritur , quod aliqui buphthalmon appe l lant , al iiz oophthalmon , a l ii st ergethron , quod amatoriis

conv eniat , a lii hypogeson , quoniam in subgrun

diis fere nascitur , sunt qui ambrosiam potins vocant

et qui amerimnon , Ital ia sedum magnum aut

oculum aut digitillum. a lterum minusculum , quode rithales v ocant , al ii trithales , qu ia t er floreat , a li ierysithales , aliqui isoetes , Ital ia sedum , atque 2

aiz oum utrumque , quoniam vire at semper , aliqui

sempervivum . maius e t cubiti altitudinem excedit ,crassitudine plus quam pollicari. fol ia in cacuminelinguae similia , carnosa , pinguia , larga suco , latitudine pollicari, al ia in t erram convexa , al ia stantia ,ita ut ambitu e ffigiem imitentur oculi . quod minuse st in muris parie tinisque e t t egulis nascitur, fru

ticosum a radice e t fol iosum usque ad cacumen , foliis

angustis , mucronatis , sucosis , palmum alto caule .

radix inut ilis .

CHI. Huic simi l is est quam Graeci andrachlen

agrian v ocant , Italia inlecebram , pusillis latioribus

foliis e t brev iore cacumine . nascitur in petris e t

colligitur cibi causa . omnium harum vis eadem re

1 iridi Detlef sen, multi codd . sativ i Mayhojf , qui punctwmnon ante sed post aiz oi ponit.

atque Detlef sen sed aeque Mayhojf sed qui VRd qui

E alii vulg.

Ox - eye . Animal- eye .

Affection (although it means natural aff ection rather than

sexual lov e ) .4 Beneath the eav es

Immortal food.f Care - free .

2 50


frigerare e t adstringere . medentur epiphoris fol iainposita v e l sucus inunctis . purgat en im u lceraoculorum expletque et ad cicatricem perducit , palpebras deglut inat . eaedem capitis doloribus medentur

suco v e l folio temporibus inlitis , adv ersantur phalan

giorum ictibus , aconito vero maius aiz oum praecipue .

a scorpionibus quoque habent em id feriri negant .

medentur e t aurium dolori , item suons inunctushyoscyami modicus , item achilleae e t centaurii

minoris et plantaginis , peucedani cum rosaceo et

meconio , acori sucus cum rosa . omni s autem strigi licale factus infunditur , cotyledon etiam purulent is cummedul la cerv ina cale facta , ebuli radicis tritae sucus

linteo colatus , mox in sole densatus et cum opus sitrosaceo dilutus et cale factus . parotidas verbenaca ,

item plantago sanat , item sideritis cum axungia

ve tere .

CIV . Narium oz aenam emendat aristolochia cumcypero.

CV . Dent ibus remedio sunt panacis radi x comman

ducata , praecipue chironiae , item suons collut is , radixhyoscyami ex aceto manducata , item polemoniae .

commanducatur et plantagini s radi x , aut coluuntur inaceto decoctae succ ; e t folia e sse 1 uti le ,2 v e l sisanguine ging ivae putrescant . v e l 3 semen e iusdemapost emata et collectiones gingiv arum sanat . et

aristolochia gingivas dent esque confirmat , verbenaca1esse VRE , Detlef sen , M ayhojj

‘edere dT : sunt vulg.

utile Detlef sen ,JlIayhojf , mul ti codd. inutile E utilia vulg.

3v el ante semen in uncia lll ayl f .

There seems to be generally a difi erence between inunguoand inlino the former is to anoint or rub , as with oil, the latteris to apply, but the dis tinction is not always observ ed . See

also p. 56.

2 52

BOOK XXV . cm . 1 62—cv . 166

gent . Fluxes of the eye s are cured by an applicationof the leave s or of the juice used as ointment . For

it cleanse s sore s of the eye s , replace s lost tissue and

make s them cicatrize ; it unglue s the eye lids whensticky . The se plants also cure headaches if the

temple s al e smeared w ith the ju ice or leav e s theyneutralize the bite of venomous spiders for aconite ,

however , an e special ly good antidote is the greateraiz oi

'

1m . It is also said that those w ho have this planton the ir persons are not stung by scorpions . Theyalso cure ear—ache , as doe s the application of a moderate amount of juice of henbane ,“ or of achil lea , of the

smal ler centaury , of plantain , of peucedanum mixedwith rose oil and poppy ju ice , and of acoron ju icewith rose leave s . But all the se juice s are warmedand inj ected w ith a strigil , cotyledon be ing goodeven for pus in the ears if warmed deer ’s marrow isadded , or the ju ice of crushed root of ebulum strainedthrough a cloth , then thickened in the sun and, whenneeded , diluted with rose oil and warmed . Verva in o… ”cure s swol len parotid glands , as doe s the plantain , gg2ài

‘f

and sideritis with old axle—gre ase .

CIV. Poly pus in the nose is treated succe s sful ly by pol“ …

aristolochia with cyperus .

CV . For the te e th remedie s are : chewed root of Remedz‘

panaces , chewed root of chironia e spe cial ly , the ju ice”’e tee”

too if the te eth be rinsed with it , the root of hen

bane chewed with vinegar, and that of polemonia .

The root of plantain also is chewed , or the te e thare rinsed with the juice of the decoction in

vinegar. To e at the leave s a lso is use ful , even if

the gums are purulent or the se ed of the same planthea ls absce sses and gather ings in the gums . Aristolochia too strengthens gums and tee th , as doe s

2 53


cum radice commanducata et decoctae ex vino aut

aceto suons collutus , item quinquefolii radicisdecoct ae ad tertias in vino 1 aut aceto . prius quamdecoquatur aqua marina aut salsa lav atur . deccotum diu tenendum in ore . quidam cinere quinquefolii fricare malunt . e t v erbasci radixd ecoquitur in

vino ad colluendos dente s , e t hysopo colluuntur et

peucedani suco cum meconio , v el radicum anagal

lidis magis f eminae succ ab altera nare quam dole at

infuso .

CVI. Erigeron a nostris vocatur senecio . hanc siferro circumscriptam e ffodiat aliquis tangatque ea

dentem et alternis t er despuat ac reponat in eundemlocum ita ut vivat herba , aiunt dentem eum poste anon doliturum . herba est trixaginis specie et

mol litia , cauliculis subrubicundis. nascitur in t egulis

et in muri s . nomen hoc Graeci dederunt , qu ia verecanescit . caput e ius numerosa div iditur lanugine ,qualis est Spinae , inter divisuras e xeunte , quareCa l limachus e am acanthida appe llav it , a lii pappum .

ne c de inde Graecis de e a constat . al ii erucae foliise sse dixerunt al i i roboris , sed minora multo , radicealii superv acua , alii nervis utili , al ii potu strangu

1 in v ino M ayhojj‘

v ino codd .

Howev er this sentence is pun ctuated, the grammar seems

to be imperfect . Were it not for the vel before radicum it

mi ght be thought that the ablativ e absolute suca infuso referredto prelimin ary treatment before rins ing the teeth with one of

the washes mentioned in the prev ious clause, but there is no

v ariant . Perhaps the vel means The washes mentioned justnow may be used by themselv es, or they may be preceded byan inject ion of juice of anagallis root up the nostril furtheraway from the pain .

”

2 54


lante . e diverso qu idam regio morbo cum vinodederunt et contra omnia ve sicae vitia , item cordiset iocineris . extrahere renibus harenam dixere .

ischiadicis drachmam cum oxymelite ab ambulatione

propinav ere , torminibus quoque et in passo utilissi

mam , praecordiis etiam cibo ex aceto e am praedi

cante s serentesque in hortis. nec de fuere qui et

alterum genus facerent nec quale e sset demon

strarent , contra serpente s in aqua bibendam edendamque comitialibus dantes . nos eam Roman is ex

perimentis per usus digeremus. lanugo e ius cum

croco et exiguo aquae frigidae trita inlinitur epiphoris ,tosta cum mica sal is strumis.

CVII. Ephemeron folia habet lilii, sed minora ;caulem parem , fiorem caeruleum , semen supervacuum , radicem unam digital i crassitudine , dentibus

praecipuam concisam in ace to decoctamque ut

tepido colluantur. e t ipsa e tiam radix sistit , cav is

exesi 1 inprimitur . che lidoniae radix ex aceto tritacont inetur ore , erosis veratrum nigrum inprimitur,

mobile s utrolibe t decocto in aceto firmantur.

CVIII. Labrum Venerium vocant in fluminenascentem. est e i ve rmicu lus qui circa dente sfricatur 2 aut cav is dentium cera includitur. caven

dum ne avulsa herba t erram tangat .

1carie exesis coni. Mayhoff (Appendix). sistit cariem, caris

exesi ( si) imprimitur coni . Warmington .

2 fricatur Mayhoff , qui XXII 12 1 conferì : nectitur Dellefsen : ligatur vulg. necatur codd.

2 56

BOOK XXV . cv 1 . 168—cv i i i . 1 71

hand some have given it with wine for j aundice , and

as a cure for all complaints of the bladder , heart and

liver . They have said that it brings away grave lfrom t he kidneys . They pre scribed for sciatica a

drachma with oxyme l after a walk , this dose be inga lso very use fu l in ra isin wine for eolie ; they re

commended it also as a . salad with vinegar for'

the

internal . organs “ general ly , and they planted it ingardens . There have been some w ho distinguisheda second varie ty , but without pointing out its qua l itie s , pre scribing it to be taken in water for snakebite , and to be e aten by epileptics . I myse lfshal l tre at of it only in so far as the Romans havefound out by e xperiment how to. use it . Its down ,

with saffron and a little cold water , is applied crushedto eye fluxes and , roasted with a grain of salt , toscrofulous sore s .

CVII. Ephemeron has the leave s of a lily , but Epheme

and Chesmal ler , a stem of the same length , a blue flower , a donia.

se ed of no va lue , and a single —root of the thickne ssof a thumb , a sovere ign remedy for the te eth - if it iscut up into piece s in vine

-

gar , boi led down , and usedwarm as a mouth wash . And the root a lso by itse lfarre sts de cay if forced into the hol low of a decayedtooth . Root of che lidon ia is crushed in vinegar and

kept in the mouth , d ark he l lebore is plugged intodecayed teeth , and loose teeth are strengthened bye ither of the se boi led down in vinegar.

CVIII. A plant that grows in rivers they ca l l the Lab…“

bath of Venus . In it is a worm wh ich is rubbedround t he teeth or plugged with w ax into the hol lowof a tooth . Care must be taken that the plantdoes not touch the ground after be ing pulled up.

See note on XXV. 41.

VOL. VII.

Veneriu


CIX. Ranunculum v ocamus quem Graeci batrachion . genera e ius IIII : unum pinguioribus quamcoriandri foliis et ad latitudinem malv ae accedentibus , colore livido , cau le a lto gracili et radice a lba .

nascitur in limitibus umidis e t opacis . a lterum foliosins , pluribus foliorum incisuris , altioribus

1caulibus .

tertium minimum e st , gravi odore , fiore aureo .

quartum simi le huic fiore lact eo .

2omnibus vis

caustica , si cruda folia inponantur, pusulasque ut

ignis faciunt . ideo ad lepras et psoras i is utuntur etad tollenda stigmata , causticisque omnibus miscent .

alopeciis inponunt ce leriter remov ent es . radix in

dolore commanducata diutius rumpit dente s , e ademsicca concisa st ernutamentum est . nostri herbariistrumum e am v ocant , quoniam medetur strumis e t

pani s parte 3 in fumo suspensa , creduntque ea rursus

sata rebe llare quae curav erint vitia ,4quo sce lere et

plantagine utuntur . oris ulcera intus sucus plantagini s emendat e t fol ia radicesque commanducata ,

v el si rheumatismo labore t os , u lcera faetoremque

quinque folium , ulcera psyllium .

CX . Composita quoque contra faetores , v e l

maxime pudendum vitium , trademus. ergo foliamyrti e t lentisci pari pondere , gallae Syriacae

1altioribus coni . Warmington altius codd.

2 lacteo (e Dioscoride) Brotier, Littré, Detlef sen , M ayhoffluteo codd.

3parte m dt delere Warmington , f ortasse per dittographiarn

ortum.

4v itia in M ayhofi .

Employée en fumigation sur la part ie malade (Littré).This is surely wrong, for the whole plant w as not burnt , but

sometimes replanted. Perhaps the plant w as smoked beforeuse , or perhaps the custom had a magical origin.


dimidium pondus simu l terere et v ino ve tusto sparsamandere matutino ex usu est , v e l hederae bacas cumcasia et murra pari pondere ex vino . naribus

utilissimumest dracontii semen contritum ex me l le,et iamsi carcinomata in iis sint . suggillata hysOpo'

emendantur, stigmata - in facie mandragoraslitus de let .

BOOK XXV. cx. 1 75

pound , when beaten up and sprinkled with old wine ,

may w ith benefit be chewed in the morning , or onemay be made of ivy berrie s , cassia and myrrh , in equalquantitie s , added to w ine . If the nostri ls are the

seat of the trouble , even though a cancer—l ike growthis pre sent , dracontium seed beaten up with honey isvery use ful . Bruise s disappear under applicationsof hyssop , and scars on the face are removed byrubbing with mandrake f’

Cf . XXVII 81 ex usu est fovere.

Possibly by the use of mandrake ointment .

2 61

LIBER XXVI

1 I. Sensit facies hominum e t novos omnique aevo

priore incogn itos non Italiae modo verum etiam uni

v ersae prope Europae morbos , tunc quoque non totaItal ia nec per Il lyricum Galliasv e aut Hispanias

magno opere v agatos , aut al ibi quam Romae circa

que , sine dolore qu idem il los ac sine pernicie vitae ,sed tanta foeditat e ut quaecumque mors praeferenda e sset .

2 Il . Gravi s simum ex his lichenas appe llav ere

Graeco nomine , Latine , quoniam a mento fere

oriebatur , ioculari primum lascivi a , ut e st procax

mul torum natura in alienis mis eriis , mox e t usurpatov ocabulo mentagram, occupant em mult is e t totos 1

utique voltus , oculis tantum inmunibus , descenden

t em vero e t in col la pectusque ac manus foedo cutisfurfure .

1et totos vulg. , Detlef sen : et latius totos M ayhoff : pro

latius in codd . invenimus intus V’

Rd , in tuitus E cod. Da i. ,intutus V2 . M ayhoff intentius coni . ego intensius ma lirn.

Lichen, from the Greek Àa'xnv , is in its medica l sens e thedespair of the medical historian . Skin diseas es are ev en today

hard to diagnose ; in ancient times it w as still harder hardest

of all is it to understand now ancient diagn osis . Lichen

in cluded ringworm and many kinds of ecz ema, espe cially when

2 64

BO OK XXVI

I. The face of man has also be en affl icted with newdiseases , unknown in past ye ars not only to Ita lybut a lso to almost the whole of Europe , and eventhen they did not spre ad all over Italy , or

through Il lyricum, the Gauls , and the Spains to anygreat e xtent , or in fact anywhere except in and

around Rome . Though they are painle ss and without danger to life , yet they are so disfiguring thatany kind of de ath wou ld be pre ferable .

II. The most severe of the se they ca l led by a

Gre ek name l ichens in Latin , because it general lybegan on the chin , it w as cal led mentagra ,

b at firstby w ay of a joke— so prone are many men to make a

j est of the misfortune s of others— the name passingpre sently into common use . The disease se ize din many case s at least the whole of the face ,

with the eye s only unaffected , but passed down howe ver a lso to the neck , che st and hands , covering theskin with a disfiguring , sca ly eruption .

it resembled the botanical lichen in form. Here it may besome form of leprosy. See also list of diseases .

Le . chin gout , as podagra is foot gout and chiragrahand gout .

”The joke , like most Roman jokes, is a feeble

one .

Mayhoff’

s la tius would mean that the disease spread fromthe chin . It seems unn ecessary with descendentern . Myintensius would mean that the disease became more v iolentas it spread from the chin . I believ e that it could easily hav ebeen changed to intus .

N ew

disease:

Liche ns

M enlay


3 III. Non fuerat haec lue s apud maiore s patresquenostros , e t primum Ti . Claudi Caesaris principatumedio inrepsit in Italiam quodam Perusino equite

Romano quaestorio scriba , cum in Asia adparuisset ,inde contagionem e ius importante . nec sensere idmalum feminae aut serv itia plebesque humi lis aut

media , sed procere s ve loci transitu osculi maxime ,

foediore multorum qui perpeti medicinam toleraverant cicatrice quam morbo . caust icis namquecurabatur , ni usque in ossa corpus exustum e sset ,

4 rebellante taedio. adv eneruntque ex Aegypto

genetrice talium v itiorum medici hanc solam op eramadferentes magna sua praeda , siquidem certum est

M anilium Cornutum e praetoriis legatum Aqu itanicae provinciae HS CC elocasse in eo morbocurandum se se . acciditque

1 contra 2 saepius ut novagenera morborum gregatim sent irentur . quo mirabilius quid pote st reperiri

? aliqua gigni repentevitia t errarum in parte certa membrisque hominum

1accidi tque codd. et edd . a ccidit quoque M ayhoff .

2contra ego transposui : om . V 1RT Detlef sen : post nov a

posuit 1Mayhofl'

cum codd .V2dEr vulg.

Littré translate s maxime by“sur tout ,

” “

especiallythrough the quick contact of the kiss , ” which suggests that

kissing w as more common among the nobles than elsewhere . I

think that the cursus verborumpoints to the translation but

the nobles through the momentary contact (speedy infect ion )of a kiss suff ered v ery much .

”

This is rather Obscure ,

and perhaps vel, ev en, has fallen out before veloci .

The omis sion of contra in sev eral MSS . shows that

the logic of the passage , which is certam oddlyexpressed , has been long misunderstood . The sequence

of thought here , as I understand the passage , is :


certis v el aetat ibus aut etiam fortunis , tamquam malo

ligente , haec in pueris grassari, i l la in adultis, haec

procere s sentire , i l la pauperes ?

5 IV. L. Paul lo Q. M arcio censoribus primum in

Italiam earbuneulum venisse annalibus notatum est ,

peculiare Narbonensis provinciae malum , quo duo

consulare s obiere condent ibus haec nobis eodem anno ,

Iulius Rufus atque Laecanius Bas sus , i l le medicorum

inscientia sectus , hic veroJ

r pol lici laev ae manus

e vulso acu ab semet ipso tam parv o‘

t ut vix cerni

6 posse t . nascitur in occultissimis corporum partibus

et plerumque sub lingua duritia rubens vari modo,

sed capite n igricans , al ias livida , in corpus intendens

neque intumescens , sine dolore , sine pruritu , sine alio

quam somni indicio, quo gravatos in triduo aufert ;

aliquando e t hon orem adferens circaque pusulas

The Pont ifex Maximus compil ed each year the offi cial listof important ev ents . These lists made up the Annales .

164 B .C.

These men were consuls in A .D . 65 and 62 respectiv ely.

The words within daggers seem corrupt , although the

general sense of the passage is clear. We expect a part iciplemeaning thrust in , not plucked out , and there is no

noun to go with parvo and evulsa. There is no sat isfactoryrestorat ion of the passage , which may possibly be , not

corrupt , but badly written by Pliny himself . It may be that

punctu (XXVIIIy

198) has fallen out after parvo (thevulgate text has vulnere after it ), but the diffi cul ty of evulsa

2 68

BOOK XXVI. 111 . 4—1v . 6

be ings or special age s , or even people of a specialposition in l ife , (just as if a plague chose its Victims) ,orie children , another adults , one making '

the h obilityspe cially l iable , another the poor .

IV. It is noted in the Anna ls that it w as in the

censorship of Lucius Paul lus and Quintus M arciusthat there appeared for the first time in Italy thecarbuncle , a disease pe cul iar to the province of Carbun

Gal lia Narbonensis . There died of it in the same

ye ar as I compose my work tw o men of consularrank , Julius Rufus ° and Laecanius Bassus ,“ the

former through the ignorance of his physicians , w hotried lancing ; the latter , however , through his ow n

te aring out with a ne edle from h is le ft thumb a

Splinter (boi l) so smal l that it could scarce ly be

se en .

“ The carbuncle forms in the most hiddenparts of the body , and usual ly as a red hardnessunder the tongue , like a pimple but blackish at the

top, o'ccasional ly of a leaden colour , spreading into

the fle sh but W 1thout swe l ling , pa in , irritation , or

any other symptom than sle ep , ov e1 eome by which

the patient i s carried off 111 thre e days . Some time salso the disease , bringing Shivering , small pustule saround the sore , and more rare ly fever, has re ached

remams. The MS . E has evulsa to agree with acu . After acua word may hav e been lost , perhaps aeuleo (Splinter) or

furunculo (boil) . Carbunculus (when not anthrax) w as a

malignant pustule or ulcer. Celsus (V 28A ) says that it

should be cauteriz ed, but does not mention cutting. If asus

does not mean‘

head’

here it is probably corrupt . Thereare tw o ways of transforming a simple boil into a generalin fection : One is to lance with a knife (Rufus), the other isto squeez e the head out with a dirty thumb A.C.A.


parvas , rarius febrem , stomachum faucesque inv asit ,1

ocissime exanimans .

7 V . Diximus e lephant iasim ant e Pompe i M agn iaetat em non accidisse in Ital ia , e t ipsam a faciesaepius incipient em , in nare prima v e lut i lenticu la ,

mcx inarescent e 2per totum corpus macu losa v ariis

coloribus e t inaequali cute , al ibi crassa , a libi tenui ,dura al ibi ceu scabie aspera , ad postremum veronigrescent e e t ad ossa carne s adprim ente , intumes

8 centibus digit is in pedibus manibusque . Aegyptipe cul iare hoc malum et , cum in reges incidisse t ,populis funebre , qu ippe in balineis solia temperabantur humano sangu ine ad medicinam eam . et hicqu idem morbus ce le1 iter in Italia rest inctus est , sicute t i lle quem gemursam appe llav ere prisc__i interdigitos pedum nascent em , e tiam nomine oblitterato.

9 VI. Id ipsum mirabile , a l ios desinere in nobis ,al ios durare , sicuti colum . Ti . Caesaris principatuinrepsit id malum , nec quisquam id prior imperatoreipso sensit , magna civitat is ambage , cum in edictoe ius excusant is v aletudinem legere t nomen incog

1 faucesque inv asit VR : paucisque E r : faucesque cuminv as it Detlef sen : faucesque ut inv as it M ayhoff ,qui VIII

(158 , IX XV 85, XVIII 115, XX 3 8,

XXX 63 , XXXI 109 , XXXIII 29 , XXXVI 127 conf eri .2 inarescente Detlefsen cum codd. : incres cente Ianus ,

M ayhojff.

In spite of the vulgate cum before invasit, and of Mayhofî

formidable list of parallel passages in support of ut , which hesubstitutes for cum, I am inclined to believ e that a new

sentence begins after auf eri ; in other words that tw o forms of

the disease are mentioned, one which kills by producing coma ,

the other in which death is due to sufi'

ocation and choking.

2 70


nitum . quid hoc e sse dicamus aut quas deorumiras ? parum en im erant homini certa morborum

genera , cum supra tre centa essent , n is i etiam novat imerentur ? neque ipsi autem homine s pauciora sibiopera sua negotia inportant . hae c apud priscos

erant quae memoramus 1 remedia , medicinam ipsaquodammodo rerum natura faciente , e t diu fuere .

Hippocrat is certe , qui primus medendi praecepta

clarissime condidit , re ferta herbarum mentione in

v enimus volumina . nec minus Diocli Caryst i, quisecundus ae tate famaque extitit , item Praxagorae

et Chrysippi ac de inde Erasistrat i Cei ,2 Herophilo

quidem , quamquam subtilioris sectae conditori , anteomne s 3 celebratam rationem eam, paulatim

‘1

usu e fficacissimo rerum omn ium magistro, peculiariter utique medicinae , ad verba garrulitatemquede scendente .

5 sedere namque in schol is - auditioni

operatos gratius erat quam ire per solitudines e t

quaerere herbas alias al iis diebus ann i .VII. Durabat tamen antiquitas firma magnasque

con fessae rei v indicabat re l iqu ias , donec Asclepiadesae tate M agn i Pompe i orandi magister nee satis inarte e a qù aestuosus , ut ad al ia quam forum 6

s agacis

1 memoramus M ayhoff cum codd . memorav imus Urlichs,Detlef sen .

2 Cei Detlef sen , M ayhofl‘

e S trabone (X 1) 6) Co codd.

3omnes vulg. omnis codd. , Detlef sen, Mayhofl

"

. Post'

omnes excidit f ortasse soimus .

4eam, paulat im codd. iam paulatim M ayhofi .

5 descendente vulg. descendentem V1 d t M ayhofi'

.

quam forum f ere omnes codd. om. vulg.

This emendation of the 0 0 of the MSS . is certain, unlessPliny has made one of his characteristic blunders.

Or, far—fetched doctrine .

”

BOOK XXVI. v r. 9—V.11 1 2

name they had never heard be fore . What are w e to

say that this means , what wrath of the gods Were

the re cogn ised kinds of human disease, more thanthre e hundred , too few , that they must be increasedby new one s also to add to man

’s fe ars ? No fewere ithe 1 are the trouble s which man brings upon himse lf by his ow n agency . The se remedie s that I The oldrecord were those used by the ancients , Nature in a Î.ÎÈÉÎZÌ.Îw ay making medicine herse lf , and the ir vogue w as a

long one . Certainly the works of H ippocrate s , w how as the first to put together , and that wi th greatdistinction , rule s for medica l practice , w e find ful l ofre ference s to herbs , e qual ly so the works of Diocles ofCarystus , w ho come s next a fter Hippocrate s in time

and reputation , likewise those of Praxagoras and

Chrysippus , and then come s Erasistratus of Ceoswhile Herophilus inde ed , a lthough the founder of

an over—subtle se ct ,“ ( w e know} recommendedbe fore all others this method of tre atment .

“ But

l ittle by little e xperience , the most e fficient teacherof all things , and in particu lar of medicine , degenerated into words and mere talk . For it w as

more pleasant to sit in a lecture - room engaged inl isten ing , than to go out into the wilds and searchfor the various plants at the ir proper season of the

ye ar.

VII. However, the ancient system of medicineremained unshaken , and claimed as its ow n con

siderable remains of its once acknowledged sphere ,until , in the time of Pompe ius M agnus , one

Asclepiade s , a professor of rhe toric , w ho found his Asclepigains in that profe ssion too smal l , but had a brain

These physicians flour ished after H ippocrates , the lasttw o at Alexandria 111 the early part of the third century B .C .


ingeni i , huc se repente convertit atque , ut nece sse erathomin i qui nec id egisset nec remedia mosse t oculis

usuque percipienda , torrenti ac meditata cotidieorat ione blandiens omn ia abdicav it totamque medicinam ad causas revocando coniecturae fecit , quinqueres maxume eommunium auxiliorum professus ,abstinentiam cibi , alias vin i , fricat ionem corporis ,ambulationem , gestationes , quae cum unusquisque

seme t ipsum sibi praestare posse inte llegeret , faventibus cunetis v e lut 1 essent vera quae facillima erant ,

un iversum prope humanum genus circumegit in se

non al io modo quam si cae lo demissus adv enisse t .

VIII. Trahebat praeterea mente s 2 artificio inan i 3

iam 4 vina promittendo aegris dandoque tempe stive ,

iam frigidam aquam , et quoniam causas morborum

scrutari prius Herophilus inst ituerat , vin i rationeminlustrav erat Cleophantus apud priscos , ipse cognominari se frigida danda prae ferens , ut auctor est M .

Varro . alia quoque blandimenta excogitabat , iam

1v e lut Warmington : ut codd.

2 mentes p lerique codd. , M ayhofl'

ment is V,Detlef sen .

3 inani coni . M ayhofl , sed alias addii amimos iamDetlef senmirabili vulg. et f ortasse d : animalia plures codd. , Urlichs

a liac coniecturae sunt ani li , animae , amabili . Vide notam.

4 iam coni. p lures : om. codd.

It is supposed that Pliny here confuses Asclepiades thephysician with Asclepiades the rhetorician . See Cliff ordAllbutt , Greek M edicine at Rome, p. 180 .

With the MSS . reading :“ were inclin ed to believ e that

the easiest etc. , but facere ut to fav our the belief thatis dubious .

Mayhoff’

s inani is perhaps the least un likely of the ro

posed emendat ions of the anima lia of the MSS . His a ias ,howev er, with iam following will commend itself to few . The

v ulgate mirabili giv es excellent sense , but would not be

2 74


suspendendo lectulos quorum iactatu aut morbosextenuare t aut somnos adliceret , iam balne as av idis

sima hominum cupidine instituendo e t aliamu lta dictugrata atque iucunda , magna auctoritate nee minorefama , cum occurrisset ignoto funeri , re lato homineab rogo atque servato , ne qu is lev ibus momentis

tantam conv ersionem factam exist ime t . id solumpossumus indignari, unum hominem e levissima gentesine opibus ul l is orsum v ectigalis sui causa repenteleges salutis humano generi dedisse , quas tamen

postea abrogav ere mu lti . Asclepiaden adiuv ere

multa in antiquorum cura nimi s anxia et rudia , ut

obruendi aegros ve ste sudoresque omni modo ciendi,nunc corpora ad ignes torrendi solesv e adsiduo

quaerendi, in urbe nimbosa , immo vero tota Ital iaimperatrice ,1 tum primum pens i li balinearum usu ad

infinitum blandient e . prae terea in quibusdam mor

bis medendi cruciatus detraxit , ut in anginis , quas

1 imperatrice codd . , vulg imbrium creatrice Ianus

imitatrice Detlef sen : nimborum altrice con i. S illig : imbricitrice M ayhofi imma— imperatrice uncis inclus it Urlichs .

Either rev olution in medical practice or change in publicopinion . See 13 . Leaibusmomentismight mean with slighte ff ects

”

Urlichs i s v ery likely right in putting within brackets thewords imma imperatrice. It reads lik e a marginal comment that has crept into the text . None of the proposed

emendat ions of imperatrice are convincing, nor do theyexplain how the supposed corrupt ion has arisen . So I keepthe reading of all the MSS , which may hav e been written byPliny in one of his wilder flights of fancy Italy may rule

the world, but it cannot control the weather . Incidentallythe passage throws strange light on the climate of ancientIta ly , or indicates that e ven in Rome people grumbled at the

weather.

2 76

BOOK XXVI. vm . 14—1 7

tive me thods of treatment , such as suspended beds ,so that by rocking them he could e ither re lievedise ase s or induce s leep ; again , he organ ized a

system of hydropathy , which appeals to man’s

greedy love of baths , and many other things pleasantand de lightful to speak of , which w on him a greatprofe ssional reputation . His fame w as no le ss gre atwhen , on me e ting the funera l cortège of a man

unknown to him , he had him removed from the pyreand saved his l ife . This incident I give le st anyshould think that it w as on sl ight grounds that so

violent a change “ took place . One thing alonemove s me to anger : that one man , of a very superficial race , beginn ing with no re source s , in order to

incre ase his income sudden ly gave to the human racerules for health , which however have subsequentlybe en general ly discarded . The succe ss of Asclepiade sowedmuch to the many distre ssing and crude feature sof ancient medica l treatment ; for instance , it w as

the custom to bury patients under coverings , and topromote perspiration by every possible mean

‘

s , now

to roast the body be fore a fire , or continual ly to

make them se ek sunshine in our rainy city , naythroughout rainy imperia l ° Ita ly : then for the

first time were used hot—air baths , heated from be low ,“

treatment of infin ite attractiveness . Besides thishe did away with the agonizing treatment em

ployed in certain disease s ; for example in quinsy ,which physicians used to treat by thrusting an

Pliny says in IX, 168 , that the pensiles ba lineae wereirlv ented by one Sergius Orata . This kind of bath hada flooring suspended ov er the hypocaust . Asclepiadesapparently prescribed a Turkish bath as a substitute forsun shine in cases where genial warmth w as beneficial.


curabant in fauce s organo demisso. damnav it meritoe t vomitiones tune supra modum frequente s . arguitet medicamentorum potus stomacho inimicos , quodest magna ex parte verum . itaque nos in primisquae sunt stomacho utilia signamus .

IX. Super omnia adiuv ere eum magicae v anitates

in tantum eve ctae ut abrogare herbis fidem cunet is

possent : aethiopide herba amne s ac stagna siccari,

onothuridis 1 tactu clausa omn ia aperiri, achaemenide

coniecta in aciem hostium trepidare agmina ac tergaverti , latacen dari solitam a Persarum rege legat is ,ut quocumque v enissent omn ium rerum copiaabundarent , ac multa similia . ubinam istae fuere ,cum Cimbri Teuton ique terribili M arte ulularent , autcum Lucul lus tot reges M agorum paucis legionibussternere t ? curve Romani duce s primam semper inbe l l is commerciorum habuere curam ? cur Caesaris

m i le s ad Pharsaliam famem sensit , s i abundantiaomn is cont ingere un ius herbae fe l icitate poterat

?

non sat ius fuit Aemilianum Scipionem Carthaginis

portas herba pat e facere quam machinis claustra pertot annos quatere ? siccentur hodie meroide Pompt inae pa lude s tantumque agri suburbanae reddatur

Italiae . nam quae apud eundem Democritum in

v enitur compositio medicamenti quo pulchri bonique1onothuridis Ill ayhofi chondridis coni . ] anus : condyendis

Urlichs : condiendis plerique codd . , Detlef sen.

Again I prin t Mayhoff’

s text without much confidence .

The condiendis of the MSS . is certainly wrong, and among the

magical herbs ment ioned in Book XXIV none comes nearer

to it . than this conj ecture of Mayhoff . One might accept

Jan ’

s chondridis (cf . XXV, 93 ) were that among the magicalherbs . Probably Pliny

’

s use of nam sed.

Who has not been mentioned in any near context .

PLI-NY : NATURAL HISTORY

e t fortunati gignantur liberi cui umquam Persarumregi tale s dedit ? mirum e sse t profeeto hucusque

prov ect am credulitat em ant iquorum saluberrimis

ortam init iis, si in ul la re modum humana ingeni anov issent atque non hanc ipsam medicinam ab

Asclepiade repertam probaturi suo loco essemus

ev ectam u l tra M agos etiam . hae c est omni in re

an imorum condicio, ut a ne cessariis orsa primo

cuneta perv enerint ad nimium . igitur demons tratarum priore l ibro herbarum re liquos e ff ectus

reddemus adicient es ut quasque ratio dictabit .

X . Sed in lichenis remediis atque t am foedo maloplura undique acerv abimus quamquam non paucisiam demonstratis . medetur ergo plantago tr1t a ,

quinquefolium , radix albuci ex aceto , ficulni caule saceto decoct i, hibisci radix cum glutino et aceto acridec'

octa ad' quartas . de fricant etiam pumi ce , ut

rumieis radix trita ex ace to inlinatur e t flos v isci cumcalce subactus . laudatur et t ithym alli cum resina

decoctum , lichen vero herba omnibus his prae fertur,inde nomine invento . nascitur in saxis , fol io uno ad

radicem lato , cau le uno parvo, longis foliis depen

dent ibus . haec de let e t stigmata , t eritur cum me l le .

est a l iud genus lichenis , pe tris totum adhaerens ut

XXIX, 6 fall .

The glue - like juice of the mist letoe found chiefly in the

berry . For this sens e of flos cf . Virgil, Georgios , IV . 3 9

fucoque et fior ibus ora s explent, collectumq ue ha ec ipsa ad

munera gluten et visco et Phrygiae servant pice lentius Idee .

BOOK XXVI. rx. 1 9—x. 2 2

good and lucky children , did it ever give suchO ffspring to any Persian king ? It wou ld certainlybe wonderful that the credulity of our fore fathers ,though it arose from most sound beginn ings , re achedthe he ight it did , if in any matter man

’s w it knewmoderation , and I were not about to show ,

“ in the

appropriate place , that this very system of medicineinvented by Asclepiade s has surpassed even M agiannonsense . It is without exception the nature of the

human mind that what begins with nece ssitie s isfinal ly carried to exce ss . I shal l there fore go on to

de scribe the omitted properties of the plants I dealtwith in the preceding book , adding any other plantsthat my judgment will sugge st .

X . But of lichen , which is so disfiguring a disease ,I shall amass from all source s a gre ater number of

remedie s , a lthough not a few have been noticeda lready . Remedie s , then , are pounded plaintain ,

cinque foil , root of asphode l in vinegar , shoots of thefig

—tre e boiled dow n in vinegar , and the root of

hibiscus with bee - glue and strong vinegar boi leddown to one quarter. The aff e cted part is alsorubbed with pumice , as a preparation for the appli

cation of rumex root pounded in vinegar , or of

mistletoe scum kne aded with lime . A decoctiontoo of tithymallus with re s in is highly recommended ;the plant l ichen however is conside red a betterremedy than all the se , a fact which has given the

plant its name . It grows among rocks , has one broadleaf near the root , and one smal l stem with long leaveshanging down from it . This plant remove s a lsomarks of scars ; it is pounded with honey . There isanother kind of l ichen , entire ly clinging , as doe s moss ,to rocks ; this too is used by itse lf as a local applica

Lichen.


muscus , qui e t ipse inlinitur. hic e t sanguinem sistit

v olneribus instillatus e t collectiones inlitus . morbum

quoque regium cum me l le sanat ore inlito et lingua .

qui ita curentur aqua salsa lav ari iubentur, ungui

oleo amygdalino , hortensiis abstinere . ad l ichene set thapsiae radice utuntur trita cum me l le .

XI. Anginae argemon ia medetur sumpta ex vino ,

hys0pum cum fico de coctum e t gargariz atum , peuce

danum cum coagulo v ituli marini aequis partibus ,proserpinaca cum muria ex menis e t oleo trita v e l sub

lingua habita . item sucus de quinque folio potus eyathis tribus . hic e t omn ibus faucium v itiis mede tur

gargariz atus , ve rbascum privatim tonsillis in aqua

potum.

XII. strumis plantago , che lidonia cum me l lee t axungia , quinque folium, radix persollatae itemcum axungia

— operitur folio suo inposita— item art

emisia , radix mandragorae ex aqua . sideritis latifolia clav e sinistra manu circumfossa adalligatur , custodienda sanatis , ne rursus sata 1 herbariorum sce lere ,

ut in quibusdam diximus , rebe lle t , quod e t in hisquos artemisia sanav erit praedici reperio , item in hisquos plantago. damason ium ,

2 quae et alisma3 voca

1sata Detlef sen cum aliquot codd. : sata die E r : sata

taedium M ayhaff .2 damasonium Hermolaus Barbarus e Dioscoride

,M aghaj

'

damasione VR Ianus , Detlef sen .

3alisma H ermolaus Barbarus : alcea Caesarius , Detlef sen

a leima Ianus , M ayhojf caucalin vulg. alcam, alcanam, alianam, alia codd.

2 82

26

27

28


tur, sub solst itio col lecta inponitur ex aqua cae lesti,folium tritum v e l radix tusa cum axungia ita ut

inposita fol io suo operiatur . sic et ad omnes cerv icisdolore s tumoresque quacumque in parte .

XIII. Be l lis in prat is nascitur , flore albo , aliqua

tenus rubente . hanc cum artemisia inlitam e theaciorem e sse produnt .

XIV. Condurdum quoque herba solstitialis , florerubro, suspensa in col lo comprimere dicitur strumas ,item verbenaca cum plantagine . digi torum v itiis

omn ibus e t privat im pterygiis quinquefoliumm edetur .

XV . In pectoris v it iis v e l grav issimum e st tussis .

hu ic mede tur panacis radix in vino dulci , sucus hyoscyami

— etiam sanguin em excreantibus , nidor quo

que accensi tussientibus— item scordotis mixtonasturt io e t re sina cum me l le tunsa arida— facit e t

per se faci les excreat ion es— item centaurium maiusv e l sanguinem re icient ibus , cui vitio e t plantaginiss ucus medetur , et vetton ica obolis tribus in aquacontra purulentas contraque cruentas exsereatione s ,

persollatae radix drachma ponderis cum pineis

nucle is undecim , peucedani sucus . pectoris doloribus acorum subv enit— et ideo 1

antidot is miscetur

1 idea Detlef sen, codd. , vulg. idem M aghaj'

.

In deciding the right reading here w e should take intoaccoun t Dioscorides III, 152 : à

'

À t ap.a oi Sè 8apaoa'

wzov

KaÀozî ow . Cf . XXV , 124 .

Is folium (singular) generic ? Perhaps so that the

applicat ion may be cov ered etc.

”

In this context antidata may mean cough mixtures ,for antidotum in the sense of remedy is not without parall el .Perhaps , howev er, the sweet - flag w as put into antidotes for

2 84

BOOK XXVI. x11. 2 5—xv . 2 8

which is also cal led alisma ,

“ is gathered at the solsticeand applied in rainwater to the sore s , the le af be ingcrushed , or the root pounded , with axle - grease , butthe application must be covered with a leaf from

the same plant . The same me thod is used for all

pains in the ne ck and for tumours in any part of

the body .

XIII. The daisy grows in me adows . It has a

white flower , to a certain distance tinged with red .

It is he ld that an application of it is more e fficacious

if artemisia is added .

XIV. Condurdum too is a plant blooming at the

summer solstice , having a red flower . Hung roundthe neck it is said to arre st scrofula ; the same is saidof vervain w ith plantain . All complaints of the

fingers and specifica l ly whitlows are succe ssful lytreated w ith cinque foi l .XV . O f che st complaints quite the most distre ssing

is cough . Remedi e s for it are : root of panaces takenin swee t w ine , ju ice of henbane (even when there isspitting of blood ; the fume s too of burning henbanehe lp the cough) , scordot is a lso mixed with cre ss anddry resin pounded with honey— even by itse lf itmakes expe ctoration easy— the gre ater centaury too ,

even when there is spitting of blood , for which com

plaint the ju ice of the plantain a lso is a remedy ,thre e eboli of betony in water for spitting of pus or

blood , root of persollata in close s of one drachma

with e lev en …pine seeds , juice of .peucedanum. For

pa ins in the che st acorum is a he lp , and for thisreason it is a component of antidote s ,“ a he lp too for

poisons in order to reliev e chest pains. Mayhoff saw the

difficulty and conjectured idem for idea ; this, howev er,makes the parenthesis pointless.

Daisy.

Condu

Cout


tussi daucum , item Scythica herba ; eadem 1omn ibus

pe ctoris v it iis . tussi e t purulenta excreantibus

obolis tribus in passi totidem, verbas cum cu ius est

flos aureus . hu ic tanta vis ut iument is etiam non

tussient ibus modo sed ilia quoque trahent ibus

auxilietur potu , quod et de gentiana reperio . radixcaccaliae commanducata et in vino made facta non

tussi tantum sed e t faucibus prodest . hysopi qu in

que rami cum duobus rutae e t ficis tribus decoctithoracem purgant , tussim sedant .

XVI. Bechion tussilago dicitur . duo e ius generasilv estris ubi nascitur subesse aquas credunt , e t hochabent signum aqui lege s . folia sunt maiuscula

quam hederae quinque aut septem , subalbida a terra ,superne pal l ida , sine cau le , sine flore , sine semine ,radice tenu i . qu idam e andem e sse arcion et alionomine chamae leucen putant . huius aridae cum

radice fumus per harundinem haustus et dev oratus

v e terem sanare dicitur tussim, sed in singulos

haustus passum gustandum est .

XVII. Altera a quibusdam salvia appe llatur ,

simi l is verbasco. conteritur et colata calfit atque itaad tussim lat erisque dolores bibitur , contra scorpione s

1eadem S itlig, M ayhojf ea demum aliquot codd . ex V1R

ea demum ex V2.

Commanducata et in vino madefacta is perhaps hysteron

proteron .

Thomaz, here chest , often the whole torso.

This chapter is structurally amorphous , and it is futileto attempt to giv e it a regular structure , especially when w e

2 86


e adem e t dracones marinos e fficax . contra serpente squoque ex oleo perungui ea prodest . hy5 0pi fasciculus cum quadrante me l lis deeoquitur ad tussim,

lateris , pe ctoris dolores , verbascum cum ruta ex aqua ,v et tonicae farina bibitur ex aqua cal ida .

XVIII. Stomachum conroborat scordotis suco, centaurium, gentiana ex aqua pota , plantago aut per se

in cibo sumpta aut cum lente alicaev e sorbitione .

vetton ica alias gravis stomacho vitia tamen sanat potav e l foliis conmanducata , item aristolochia pota ,

agaricum manducatum siccum, ut ex interval lomerum sorbeatur, nymphaea heraclia inlita , peucedan i sucus . psyllion ardoribus inponitur, v el cotyledon trita cum polenta v e l aiz oum .

XIX. Molon scapo e st striato, folus mollibus ,parvis , radice quat tuor digitorum in qua e xtrema aliicaput e st . v ocatur a quibusdam syron . ex vinostomacho e t 1 dyspnoeae medetur, centaurium maiusecligmate , plantago suco v e l cibo, v e ttonicae tusae

1et om. M ayhoff , qui lacunam indicat.

It is diffi cul t to translate draco marinus , probably Trachinus draco, the greater weev er, that can inflict poisonous

wounds with its dorsal spines. Sea snake and sea

serpent are unsuitable for obv ious reasons .

For alica , groats» from wheat used to make a weak gruel,

see XXII, 128, 129 . The Romans used it in preference to

barley water.

Ayrdores is a diffi cult , at least an ambiguous , term. It

occurs fiv e t imes in Pliny, and except here always as the directobject of the v erb ref rigerare ; it is also always In the plural.It could therefore mean : l ) superficial inflammation, (2 )fev erishness , or (3 ) a feeling of being stifled by heat . In this

passage the v erb inponiturmakes (I) the most like ly meaning.

The other passages are : ad ref rigerandas - in morbis corporum

2 88

BOOK XXVI. xv 11. 3 1—x1x . 3 3

scorpion stings and the poison of the sea dragon .

“

An embrocation also of the plant and oil is good forsnake bites . For cough , pains in the s ide and in the

che st , a decoction is made of a bunch of hyssop and

a quarter of a pound of honey , and verbascum withrue is taken 111 water , or powdered be tony in hot

water.

XVIII. The stomach is strengthened by the juiceof scordotis , by centaury , by gentian taken in water ,by plantain , e ither taken by itse lf in food or mixedwith lentils or alica ° grue l . A lthough be tony ingenera l l ies he avy on the stomach , ye t taken in drink ,or if the leave s are chewed , it cures its trouble s ;aristolochia also may be taken in drink or dry agaricchewed , neat wine be ing drunk after a while ,and nymphaea heraclia or juice of peucedanum maybe applied local ly . Psyllion is applied to inflamma

tions ,° or pounded cotyledon with pearl—barley , or

a1z oîìm.

XIX. Molon has a striated stalk , soft smal l leave s ,and a root four fingers long , at the end of which is ahead like that of garl ic . Some give it the name of

syron . In wine it cures stomach troubles and

diffi culty of breathing, as do the greater centaury inan e lectuary , plantain , its juice or as food , poundedbetony , in the proportion of one pound to half an

ardores (XIV, ad ref rigerandos ardores (XX ,

ardores ref rigerando (of hydrome l in a light diet , XXII,ardores ref rigerai (XXIV, In XXII, 110 at any rate

the sense of fev erishness is the most appropriate .

Mayhoff supposes that there is a lacuna after stomacho,

probably because of the strange conjunction of complaints .

But the whole of this sentence is strange , with scarcely anyform at all, order and structure being queer.

VOL. VII.

S tamascompia

Molon,


pondo libra , me llis Attici semuncia ex aqua ca lidacotidie bibent ibus , aristolochia v e l agaricum obolis

tern is ex aqua calida aut lacte asin i potum . cissan

themos ad orthopnoeas bibitur , item hysopum et

asthmaticis , peucedani sucus in iocineris doloribus e t

pectori s laterisque , si febre s non sint . sanguinemquoque expuent ibus subv enit agaricum v ictoriat i

pondere tritum et in mnlsi qu inque cyathis datum .

idem et amomon facit . iocineri privatim teucria

bibitur recens drachmis quattuor in poscae hemina ,

v e ttonicae drachma una in aquae calidae cyathis

tribus , ad cordis vitia in frigidae cyathis duobus .

quinquefolii sucus iocineris e t pulmonis v itiis san

guinemque re icient ibus e t cuicumque v itio sanguinisintus occurrit . iocineri anagallides mire prosunt .

capnon herbam qui edere bilem per urinam reddunt ,acoron iocineri medetur , thoraci e t praecordiis

daucum .

XX . Ephedra ab a liis anabasis vocata nascitur

ventoso fere tractu scandens arborem e t ex ramispropendens , folio nu l lo , cirris numerosa qui sintiunci geniculati , radice pal lida . datur ex vino nigroaustero trita ad tussim , suspiria , tormina e t sorbi

This probably means that a decoction or infusion is made ,as is often the case when a solid thing bibitur.

”

The adv erb intus is difficult . Literally the clause seemsto mean fights any blood complaint within , or adv ances

to the inside against any blood complaint .

”This

might mean that impure blood in the internal organs

w as purified , or that trouble in the const itut ion of

the blood anywhere w as rectified . Pliny is rather loosein placing his adv erbs and adv erbial phrases, so that w e

cannot be sure whether intus goes more close ly with vitia

sanguinis or with occurrit. Grammat icall y the latterwould be more correct , but personally I feel that the


tione facta in quam vinum addì conv enit . itemgentiana made facta pridie contrita denar n ponderein vini cyathis tribus .

XXI. Geum radiculas tenues habet nigrae , beneolentes . mede tur non modo pectoris doloribus aut

lateri s sed e t cruditat es discutit iucundo sapore .

verbenaca vero omnibus visceribus medetur, lateribus , pulmonibus, iocineribus , thoraci ; peculiariter

autem pulmonibus e t quos ab his phthis is t emptetradix herbae consiliginis , quam nuper inventamdiximus . suum qu idem e t pecoris omnis remediumprae sens est pulmonum v itio v e l traiecta tantum in

auricula . bibi debe t ex aqua haberique in ore adsi

due sub l ingua . superficies e ius herbae an sit inaliquo usu adhuc incertum est . renibus prodest

plantaginis cibus, v ettonicae potus , agaricum potum

ut in tussi .XXII. Tripolion in maritimis nascitur saxis ubi

alludit unda , neque in mari neque in sicco, folio isatiscrassiore , caule palmum al to, in mucrone diviso,radice alba , odorata , crassa , cal idi gustus . datur

hepaticis in farre cocta . haec herba eadem videtur

quibusdam quae polium de qua suo loco diximus .

XXIII. Gromphaena , alterni s v iridibus roseisque

per cau lem foliis in posca sangu inem reicient ibus

mede tur, XXIV . iocineri autem herba malundrum ,

See Book XXV, 586.

See Book XXI, 44,145—147 .

BOOK XXVI. xx . 3 6—xx1v . 4 0

into a g rue l , to which wine should be added . An

other remedy is gentian , thoroughly pounded afterbe ing ste eped the day be fore , the dose be ing a

denarius by we ight in three cyathi of wine .

XXI. Geum has little roots , slender , blackish and

with a pleasant sme l l . It not on ly is a cure for pains inthe che st or side , but also dispe ls indigestion , havingbe sides a pleasant taste . Vervain however is a curefor trouble s of all the interna l organs— side s , lungs ,l iver and che st . But e special ly good for the lungs , andfor those attacked by pulmonary tuberculosis , is theroot of the plant consiligo , which I have said w as but

recently discovered .

“ It is a sovere ign remedyde ed for lung trouble in pigs and in all cattle , eventhough it is mere ly placed across the ear—lap. It

ought to be drunk in water and he ld continuously inthe mouth under the tongue . Whe ther the part ofthis plant above ground is of any use is not yet agreed .

The kidneys are benefited by plantain taken as food ,by betony taken in drink , and by agaric taken in

drink as is prescribed for cough .

XXII. Tripolion is found on coastal rocks washed bythe wave s , but ne ither in the sea nor on dry ground ;the leaf is that of isatis on ly thicker , the stem a spanhigh and divided at the end, and the root white , thick ,with a strong sme l l and a hot taste . Cooked inemmer whe at it is pre scribed for patients with livercomplaint . This plant is thought by some to be the

same as polium , about which I have Spoken in itsproper place .

XXIII. Gromphaena , which has its leave s altermate ly green and rose - colour along the stem , takenin vinegar and water cure s Spitting of blood ; XXIV.

and the plant malundrum cure s trouble s of the l iver ;

Geum.

Tripol

Gromp)and

plants.


nascens in segete ac pratis , flore a lbo odorata . e iuscaul iculus conteritur ex vino vetere . XXV . itemherba calce tum e v inace is contrita inponitur. facile s

praestat v omi t iones radix v ettonicae , he llebori modo

quattuor drachmis in passo aut mulso , hysopum tritum

cum me lle , utilius praesumpto nasturtio aut irione ,

molemonium denarii pondere . e t sillybi1 lacteus

sucus qui densatur in cummim sumitur cum me l lesupra dicto pondere praecipueque bilem trahit .

rursus sistunt vomit ionem cuminum silve stre , v e t

tonicae farina , sumuntur ex aqua . abstergentfastidia cruditat esque digerunt daucum , v e ttonicae

farina ex aqua mulsa , plantago decocta caulium

modo. singultus hemionion sedat , item aristolochia , suspiria clymenus . pleuriticis e t peripleu

monicis centaurium maius , item hysopum bibitur,

pleuriticis peucedani sucus.

XXVI. Halus 2 autem , quam Gal li si l 3 vocant ,

Veneti cotoneam mede tur lateri , item renibus con

volsisque et ruptis . simi l is est cuni lae bubulae ,

cacuminibus thymo, du lcis et sitim sedans , radicisalibi albae , al ibi nigrae .

XXVII. Eosdem e ffectus in lateris doloribus habe tchamaerops myrte is circa caules gemimos foliis ,

capitibus Graeculae rosae , ex vino pota . ischiadicos

dolore s et spinae levat agaricum potum ut in tussi ,1sillybi M ayhcjj

‘

qui sic distinguit : sillybus Detlef sen, qui

cummolemonium coniungit : vari a codd.

2 Halus Detlef sen, codd. : alus coni . Mayhojff .3sil Schneider, S illig, Detlef sen : sic codd .

Or, little stalk.


item stoechadis aut v ettonicae farina ex aquamulsa .

XXVIII. Plurimum tamen homini negotii alvusexhibet cu ius causamaior parsmort alium vi v it . a liasenim cibos non transmitt it , alias non continet , aliasnon capit , al ias non conficit , eoque more s venere ut

homo maxM e cibo pereat . pe ssimum corporum v as

instat ut creditor et saepius die appe l lat . hu ins gratia

praecipue avarit ia expetit , huic luxuria condit , hu icnav igatur ad Phasim , huic profundi vada exquiruntur .

e t nemo v ilitat em e ius aest imat consummationis

foeditat e . ergo numerosissima est circa hanc medicinae opera . sistit eam scordotis recens drachma

cum v ino trita v el decocta potu , polemonia quae et

dysintericis ex vino datur , v erbasci radix pote ex

aqua duorum digitorum magn itudine , nymphaeae

heracliae semen cum vino potum radix superior e

xiphio drachmae pondere ex aceto , semen plantagin is in vino tritum v el ipsa ex aceto cocta aut alicaex suco e ius sumpta , item cum lenticula cocta v e l

aridae farina inspersa potioni cum papav ere tosto e t

trito, v e l sucus infusus aut potus , vettonica in vinoferro cale facto. eadem coe liacis in vino austerodatur, his et hiberis inponitur uti dictum est .

The other v erbs in this sentence are inte lligible , but thediff erence between non continet and non capit is hard to grasp.

I suggest , with some diffidence , that the former refers to

v omiting, and the latte r to the full feeling that rej ectsev en the greatest delicacy . Professor Andrews howev ersuggests diarrhoea and regurgitation.

2 96

BOOK XXVI. XXV II . 4 2—xxv111 . 44

spine , as does powdered stoechas or be tony , takenin hydrome l .XXVIII. The gre atest part however of man

’s Diseastrouble is caused by the be l ly , the grat ification of

which is the life ’s work of the majority of mankind .

For at one time it doe s not a llow food to pass , at anotherit wi l l not re tain it , at another it does not take it , atanother it doe s not dige st it ; and so much have our

customs degenerated that it is chiefly through hisfood that a man die s . This , the most trouble some

organ in the body , pre sse s as doe s a creditor , maki ngits demands several times a day. It is for the be lly ’ssake e specia l ly that avarice is so acquisitive ; for itssake luxury use s spice s , voyages are made to the

Phasis , and the bottom of the ocean is explored .

Nobody , again, is led to consider how base an organit is by the fou lne ss of its completed work . Therefore the tasks of medicine concerned with the be l lyare very numerous . Looseness of the bowe ls ischecked by a drachma dose of fre sh scordotis beatenup with wine , or by the same quantity taken in a

decoction , by polemonia in wine , which is also givenfor dysentery , by root of verbascum in doses of tw ofingers ’ size taken in water , the seed of nymphaeaheraclia taken with wine , the upper root of xiphium ,

the dose be ing a drachma by we ight , taken in

vinegar , the seed of plantain beaten up in wine ,plantain itse lf boi led in vinegar, or groats taken in

plantain juice , also the plant boiled with lentils , orthe plant dried , powdered and —sprinkled in drinkwith parched and pounded poppie s , ju ice of plantaininj e cted or drunk , or betony in wine made warmwith hot iron . Betony is also administered in a

dry wine for coe liac aff ections , for which hiberis a lso

2 97


tenesmo radix nymphaeae heracliae e vino bibitur,psyllium in aqua , acori radicis decoctum . aiz oi sucus

alvum sistit et dysinterias e t taenias rotundas pellit .

symphyt i radix pota in vino alvum e t dysinteriamsist it , idem dauci. aiz oum foliis contritis ex vinotorminibus resistit , alcimae siccae farina torminibuspota cum vino.

XXIX . A stragalus folia habet longa incisuris multisobliquis , circa radicem caule s tre s , aut quattuor

foliorum plenos , florem hyacinthi , radice s v illosas ,inplicatas , rubras , praeduras . nascitur in petrosis ,apricis e t isdem niv alibus , sicut Pheneo Arcadiae .

vis e i ad spissanda corpora . alvum sist it radix in

vino pota , quo fit ut mov e at urinam repercussol iquore , sicut pleraque quae alvum sistunt . sanat e tdysintericos in vino rubro tusa , difficile autem tun

ditur . e adem gingiv arum suppurat ioni utilissima est

fotu . colligitur exitu autumn i , cum folia amisit ,siccatur in umbra .

XXX . Et ladano sistitur a lvus utroque , quod in

segetibus nascitur contuso e t cribrato ; bibitur ex

aqua mulsa item nobili e vino. ledon appellatur

herba ex qua fit in Cypro barbis caprarum adhae

rescens . nobilius in Arabia . fit iam 1e t in Syria

1 M aghaj ita distinguit nobilius in Arabia fit , iam.

Book XXV, 88.

It is not iceable how Pliny carelessly repeats himself inthis chapter. In the last sentence torminibus occurs twice ; ineach of the tw o preceding sentences occurs the phrase alaumsistit.

Rubrum vinum, a light red wine ; nigrum vinum,a wine of

the colour of port .

2 98


atque Africa , quod toxicum v ocant . nervos enim in

arcu circumdatos lanis trahunt adhaerescent e roseidalanugine . plura de eo diximus inter unguenta .

hoc grav issimum odore est durissimumque tactu .

plurimum enim terrae colligit , cum probetur maxime

purum, odoratum, mol le , viride , re sinosum . naturac i molliendi, siccandi, eoncoquendi, somnum ad

lieiendi. capillum fluentem cohibet nigritiamque

custodit , auribus eum hydrome lite aut rosaceo infunditur, furfures cutis et manantia u lcera sale additosanat , tussim v eterem cum storace sumptum , etheacissimum ad ructus .

XXXI. Alvum sistit e t chondris sive pseudodictamnum. hypocisthis , orobothron quibusdam dieta ,

malo granato imm aturo sim i lis , nascitur ut diximus ,

sub eistho, unde nomen . haec are facta in umbrasistit alvum ex vino n igro austero utraque . duo en imgenera e ius , candida e t rufa . usus in suco, spissat ,

siccat , e t rufamagis stomachi rheumatismos emendat ,

pota tribus obolis sanguini s excreationes cum amylodysint erias pota et infusa , item verbenaca ex aquadata aut earentibus febri ex vino Aminneo , cochle aribus quinque additis in cyathos tre s vini .

The word m'

jov means bow .

See Book XII, 7 3 fell .Book XX IV, 81.

The word hypocisthi s in Greek means under the

cisthus .

”

Et has often to be translated or. Sometimes the sense

shows that or is the obv ious translation, the difference

3 0 0

BOOK XXVI. xxx. 4 7—xxx1 . 49

toxicum. For they surround with pie ce s of wool stringsfastened across a bow ,

“and drag it over the

,plant ;to this woo l adhere the dew - like tufts of ladanum .

I have sa id more about the plant in my section on

unguents .

° This ladanum has a very strong sme l land is very hard to the touch . In fact a great dealof earth sticks to it , while the most valued kind isclean , scented , soft , green and re sinous . Its natureis to soften , to dry , tomature absce sse s , and to induces le ep . It prevents the ha ir from fal l ing off , and

pre serve s its dark colour . It is poured into the

ears with hydrome l or rose—oil . With the additionof salt it cure s scurf on the skin and running sore s ,and chron ic cough when taken with storax ; it is alsoa very e ff e ctive carminative .

XXXI. Loosene ss of the bowe ls - is checked too bychondris , also cal led pseudodictamnum . Hypocisthis ,cal led by some orobothron , which is l ike an unripepomegranate , grows as I have said ° under the

cisthus , and from this fact derive s its name .

“ Eitherkind of hypocisthis (there are tw o ; the white and thered) , dried in the shade and taken in dark—red , drywine , checks loosene ss of the bowe ls . The part usedis the juice , which brace s and dries , and it is the red

kind that arre sts be tter stomach catarrhs , spitting of

blood when three obol i are taken with starch in

drink , and dysentery when taken in drink or °

inj ected ; simi larly vervain given in water , or in

Aminnean wine if there is no fever , the dosebe ing fiv e spoonfuls added to three cyathi of

w me .

between the tw o languages being idiomat ic ; at other times

(as here ) there is a real ambiguity, and nobody can decide

whether et is equivalent to and or or.

”


XXXII. Laver quoque nascens in rivis condita e t

eocta torminibus medetur, XXXIII. potamogiton

vero ex vino disinterieis e tiam et coe liacis , simi l isbetae foliis , minor tantum hirsut iorque , paulumsemper eminens e xtra aquam . usus in foliis

re frigerant , spissant , peculiariter eruribus v itiosis

util ia e t contra ulcerum nomas eum me l le v e l aceto.

Castor hanc al iter nov erat , tenu i folio ve lut equinis

sae tis , thyrso longo e t levi , in aquosis nascent em .

radice sanabat strumas e t durit ias . potamogiton

adv ersatur crocodilis , itaque se cum habent e am qui

v enantur eos . alvum sistit e t achil lea . eosdem

e ff ectus praestat e t statice , septem caulibus v e lut i

rosae capita sustinens .

XXXIV . Cerat ia uno fol io , radice nodosa e t

magna , in cibo coeliacis e t dysint ericis medetur .

leontopodion a lii leueeoron , a lii dorype tron ,ali i

thorybe thron vocant , cu ius radix alvum sist it purgat

que bilem , in aquam mulsam addito ponderedenariorum duorum . nascitur in campestri e t

gracili solo. semen e ius potum lymphatica somnia

facere dicitur . lagopus sistit alvum e vino pota aut

in fehri ex aqua . e adem inguini adalligatur in

tumore . nascitur in segetibus . multi super omn ialandamt ad deploratos dysint e ricos quinque folium

Bostock and Riley hav e neutraliz es the eff ects of the

bite of t he crocodile , a translation which fits in with the

usua l sense of adversari in Pliny, and, absurd as it sounds ,may be right . Perhaps the plant w as used as an amulet .

Not that it would be taken with that obj ect . Cf . 557 .

3 0 2


decoct is in lacte radicibus potis , e t aristolochiamv ictoriati pondere in cyathis vini tribus . quae ex

supra dictis calida sumentur , hae c candente ferrotemperari aptius erit . e diverso purgat alvum sucus

centaurii minoris drachma in hemina aquae cumexiguo sal is e t ace ti bilemque detrahit , maioretormina diseutiuntur. ve tton ica alvum solv it drachmis quattuor in hydrome lit is cyathis novem , itemeuphorbeum v e l agaricum drachmis duabus cum salemodico potum ex aqua aut in mulso ebolis tribus .

solv it et cyclaminos ex aqua pota aut balanis subditis ,item chamaecissi balanus . hysopi manipulus de

coetus ad tertias eum sale e t pituitas trahit 1 v e l

tritus in oxyme lite e t sale , pe llitque ventris animal ia .

pituitam et bilem detrahit peucedani radix .

XXXV . Alvum purgant anagallides ex aqua mulsa ,item epithymum , qui est flos e thymo sature iae

simi li . diff erentia , quod hic herbaceus est , alteriusthymi albus ; qu idam hippopheon vocant . stomacho

minus utilis v omitiones mov e t , sed tormina et in

flationes discutit . sumitur et ecligmate ad pectorisvitia cum me l le e t aliquando iride . alvum solv it a

quattuor drachmis ad sex cum me l le et exiguo salisatque aceti . quidam aliter epithymum tradunt sineradice nasci , capite tenui 2 simi litudine pallioli,

rubens , siccari in umbra , bibi ex aqua ace tabu li partedimidia , detrahere pituitam bilemque , alvo leniter

1 Post trahit et vulg. inlitus addunt.2capite tenui coni. M ayhoff sed in texin tenue cum Har

duino tenuis Detlef sen tenui codd.

In this chapter, as in most prescriptions giv en by Pliny,although the dosage is often giv en ,

the frequency of the doses is

omitted, as is the length of the treatment . These importantpoints are often left to chance or common sense .

3 0 4

BOOK XXVI. XXXIV. 53—XXXV. 56

in mi lk of the roots of cinque foil , or aristolochia ,

a victoriatus by we ight in thre e cyathi of wine .

When the pre scriptions mentioned above are to be

taken warm , it wi l l be found be st to heat themwith red—hot iron . On the other hand a drachma

of the juice of the lesser centaury taken in a heminaof water with a little salt and vinegar purge s thebowe ls and carrie s off bile ; “ the greater centaurydispe ls griping pains . Betony acts as an aperient ,four drachmae be ing added to n ine cyathi of hydrome l;so a lso euphorbeum or agaric , in close s of tw o

drachmae with a little salt , taken in water or in thre eeboli of honey wine . Cyclamen too is an aperient ,e ither taken in water or used as a suppository ; thesame in its action is a suppository of chamaecissos .

A handful of hyssop , boi led down to one third withsal t , or pounded in oxyme l and sal t , both carrie s offphlegm and expe ls worms from the intestines . Rootof peucedanum carrie s off both phlegm and bile .

XXXV . Both kinds of anagal lis , taken in hydrome l ,are purgative , as is also epithymum , which is theblossom of the thyme like sature ia . The only diff erence is that this has a grass—gre en flower , the otherthyme a white one . Some cal l it hippopheos . Le ssbeneficial to the stomach

,it cause s vomitings , but

dispe ls eolie and flatulence . As an e lectuary it isalso taken with honey , and sometime s w ith iris , forche st troubles . From four to six drachmae withhoney and a l ittle sal t and vinegar move the bowe ls .

Others give a different account of epithymum : thatit grows without a root , has a smal l head like a littlehood , is red in colour and is dried in the shade , and a

dose of half an acetabulum , taken in water , carrie soff phlegm and bile , acting as a gentle aperient .

3 0 5


soluta . XXXVI. e t nymphaea in vino auste ro solv it

e t pycnocomon , erucae foliis crassioribus e t acrioribus ,

radice rotunda lute i coloris terram olente , caule

quadriangulo, modico, tenui , flore ocimi . inv enitur

in saxosis locis . radix e ius in aqua mulsa 11

pendere et alvum e t bilem et pituitam exinanit .

semen somnia tumu ltuosa facit una drachma in vino

potum . e t capnos1 trunca 2 detrahit bilem .

XXXVII. Polypodi, quam nostri filiculam vocant ,

s imilis filicis , radix in usu , pilosa , coloris intus her

bacci , crassitudine digiti min imi , ace tabulis cavernosa

cen polyporum cirri , subduleis , in petris nascens aut

sub arboribus v e tust is . exprimitur sucus aqua

made factae , e t ipsa minute concisa inspergitur oleri

v e l betae v e l malv ae v e l salsamento aut cum pulticula

coquitur ad alvum v e l in febri lenite r solv endam .

detrahit bilem et pituitam , stomachum offendit .

aridae farina indita naribus polypum eonsumit .

florem e t semen non fert .

1et capnos Vd, M ayhofi et carnos E r : discutit panos

Detlef sen .

2 trunca Ianus , M aghaj‘

struma d : strumam VDetlef sentru E 1 unde M ayhofl esu coni. XX 178 collato : per urinamconi. S illig.

Dioscorides has 8pinea (IV.

Perhaps de liberat e induced for diagnostic purposes as

by the cult of Aesculapius . The next sentence is corrupt in

3 0 6


XXXVIII. Scamonium quoque dissolutione 1 sto

machi 2 bilem de trahit , alvum solvit , prae terquam siadiciantur aloe s drachmae duae ebolis e ius duobus .

est autem sucus herbae ab radice ramosae pinguibus

foliis , triangulis , albis , radice crassa , madida , nausiosa .

nascitur pingui e t albo solo. radix circa canis ortumexeav atur , ut in ipsam confluat sucus qui sole siccatus

digeritur in pastil los . siccatur e t ipsa v e l cortex .

laudatur nat ione Colophonium , Mysium ,Prienense ,

specie autem n itidum e t quam simi ll imum taurinoglutini , fungosum t enuissimis fistulis , cito liquescens ,virus redolens , cumminosum , l inguae tactu lacteseens ,quam lev issimum , cum diluatur albe scens . hoc

ev enit e t adulterino quod fit ervi farina e t t ithymalli

marin i suca fere in Iudaea , quod etiam strangulat

sumptum . deprehenditur gustu , t ithymallus enimlingnam excale faeit . usus bimo , nec ante nec posteautile , dedere et per se ex aqua v e l 3 mulsa et sale

quaternis obolis , sed ut ilissM e cum aloe ita ut inci

pient e purgatione mulsum bibatur . fit et decoctum1 dis solutione Detlef sen dissolutiones (aut - em) multi cadd

non sine dissolut ione coni. M ayhoff fortasse cum dissolut ione .

2stomachi] facit addit Gelenii editio.

3v el multi codd . , Detlef sen, M ayhoff , qui ecc Dioscoride pura

v el coni : v el ante ex aqua trans . E . Wistrand (Eranos ,

The Latin of this sentence would be made more normal bythe addition of non sine or cum before dissolutions. It wouldbe perhaps more Plinian if w e kept the dissolutionem or

dissolutiones of the MSS . and added facit af ter stomachi .Then from bilem to solvit would be a parenthesis characteristicof Pliny, and the subordinate clause beginning with praeterquam woul d depend logically and grammat ically on dis

solutionem stomachi facit.Littré has : On fait sécher aussi la plante meme ou

ecorce .

”

3 0 8

BOOK XXVI. XXXVIII. 59—61

XXXVIII. It is by re laxing the stomach that Scamo:scamonium too brings away bile and loosens thebowe ls , un le ss inde ed to tw o oboli of it are added tw odrachmae of aloe s .

“ This is the juice of a plantwithmany branches at the root , fleshy, thre e - cornered ,pale leave s , and a thick , w et , nause ating root . It

grows in rich , pale soil . Near t he rising of the

Dogstar a hol low is made in this root , so that theju ice may col lect in it automatical ly ; this is driedin the sun and worked into lozenge s . The root itse lfor the skin is also dried .

° The kind most approvedgrows in the regions of Colophon , Mysia and Priene .

This is shiny , as like as possible to bull gluc ,“ spongyw ith very fine cracks ,“quicklyme lting ,

° with a poisonous sme l l , gummy , becoming like milk at a touch of

the tongue , e xtreme ly light , and turning white whendissolved . This happens too w i th bastard seamon

ium , which is made,general ly in Judaea , with flour of

bitter ve tch and juice of sea spurge , and e ven choke sthose w ho take it . The bastard kind is dete cted bythe taste , for the genuine burns the tongue . It i sto be used when tw o ye ars old, be ing of no use

e ither be fore or after. It has be en pre scribed byitse lf in water or in hydrome l and salt ,f the dosebe ing four oboli , but most efl

’

ectiv e ly w ith aloe s ,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, è‘

2 3 6 .

Dioscorides has (IV, 170 ) ofipayyas è'

v Àevrrci9 , 0 7r0 y7 035719 .

Pliny may hav e mistaken the first word for a v'

pvyya 5‘

.

Or, becoming flabby (Professor A . C. Andrews) .f Wistrand ’

s emendation is attractiv e : either by itself orin hydromel and salt .

”


radicis in aceto ad crassitudinem me llis , quo lepraeinlinuntur e t caput inunguitur

1 in dolore cum oleo .

XXXIX . Tithymallum nostri herbam lactariamv ocant , a li i lactucam caprinam , narrantque lacte e iusinscripto corpore , cum inaruerit , si cinis inspargatur ,apparere lit teras , et ita quidam adulteras adloqui

maluere quam codieillis . genera e ius multa : primuscognominatur characias , qui et masculus existimatur , ramis digital i crassitudine , rubris , sucosis ,

quinque aut sex cubitali longitudine , a radice foliis

paene ole ac , in cacuminibus coma iunci. nascitur in

asperis maritimi s , legitur semen autumno cum coma ,

siccatum sole tunditur et reponitur . sucus veroincipiente pomorum lanugine de fractis ramulis excipitur farina ervi aut ficis ut cum i is arescat . quinasautem guttas singulis exeipi satis est , traduntque

e tiam totiens purgari hydropicos fico sumpta quotguttas ea lactis exceperit . sucus cum colligitur, ne

at tingat oculos cav endum est . fit et e foliis tunsis

priore minus eflieax . fit et decoctum e ramis . est e t

semen in usu cum me l le decoctum ad catapotia

solv endae alvi gratia . semen et dentium cav is ceraincluditur. coluuntur e t radicis decocto e vino aut

1 inungui tur d, M ayhojj'

unguitur plerique codd . , Detlef sen.

On coma see pp. 482 , 483 .

Tw o sentences from Dioscorides IV , 164 , are inte resting .

Th ey are dm'

{er a c w ept r òv rpvynr dv , and c’

v Sè e

ra? o’

m'

lew0 13 dei Kav

"dvey.ov lor aoÙac 0 135è rds xeîpas 1rpoadya v rais

3 1 0


oleo. inlinunt et lichenas succ , bibuntque eum ut

purget v omitione e t alvo soluta , alias stomacho

inut ilem. trahit pituitam sale addito in potu , bilemaphronitro, si per alvum purgari lìbeat , in posea , sivomi tione , in passo aut aqua mulsa . media pat iotribus obolis datur. ficos a cibo sumpsisse me lius est .

fauces urit leni t er , est enim tam ferv ent is naturae ut

per se extra corpori inposita1pusulas ignium modo

faciat e t pro caustico in usu sit .

XL. Alterum genus t ithymallimyrt iten v ocant , alu

caryiten , foliis myr ti acutis e t pungent ibus, sed

maioribus ,2e t ipsum in asperis nascens . colliguntur

comae e ius hordeo turge scente siccataeque in umbradiebus novem in sole inarescunt . fructus non paritermaturescit , sed pars anno sequente , e t mux v ocatur .

inde cognomen Graeci dedere . demetitur cum 3

messium maturitate lav aturque , de inde siccatur et

datur cum papav eris n igr i duabus partibus ita ut sittotum acetabul i modus , minus hi c v omitorius quamsuperior, ce teri item.

5aliqui sic et folium e ius dedere ,

1 inposita cad. a , Detlef sen : inpositus M ayhofi’ inpositum

plerique codd . , vulg.

2 maioribus e Dioscoride IV 164 (q'

ÀÀa . pei Bè xa ì

0 7 6p€ d) M ayhofi'

: mollioribus codd . , vulg . , add .

3cum plerique codd . ,

M ayhcfi'

om. cad. a , Detlef sen .

4v omitorius 0 . F . W. Muller, M ayhoff : v omitioni bus

5ceteri item M ayhaff ceterum idem Detlef sen : (centum

a idemV x a) . Fortasse ceteri usus iidem, ut M aghaj'

cani.

Mayhoff’

s conjecture inpositus (soil. sucus ) is what Plinyought to hav e written, but I think that he w rote the femininebe cause he had na tura , or perhaps herba , in mind . The be tter

attested reading inpositam can scarcely be right , as there is

3 1 2

BOOK XXVI. XXXIX. 64—XL. 67

applied local ly for lichen ; it is taken internal ly as a

purge , be ing both an emetic and an aperient ; apartfrom this it is bad for the stomach . Taken in drinkwith the addition of salt it brings away phlegm , but

to bring away bile saltpetre must be added ; if it isde sired that the purging shal l be by stool , the drinkshould be vinegar and water ; if by vomiting , raisinwine or hydrome l . A moderate draught is made upwith thre e obol i . It is better taken on a fig

,and after

food . The juice burns the throat slightly for it isof so heating a nature that , applied external ly byitse lf to the body , it raise s blisters as fire doe s , andso it is sometime s used as a cautery .

XL. The second kind of tithymallus is cal led125233

“

myrtites by some , and caryites by others , hav 1ng tz thymîzleave s like those of the myrtle , pointed and prickly ,but larger , and growing like the first kind in roughground . Its he ads are gathered when the barley isbeginning to swe l l , dried in the shade for nine daysand thoroughly dried in the sun . The fruit does notripen all toge ther, but a part in the fol low ing year.

It is cal led the nut , and for this reason the Greekshave surnamed this tithymallus caryites.

° It isgathered when the harve st is ready , washed , and

then dried . It is given with twice the amount of

black poppy ,° the dose be ing one acetabulum altogether. It is a le ss violent emetic than the preceding ,as are also the others . Some have given the le afalso in a similar dose , the nut however by itse lf in

no neuter noun it could refer to, but inpositù might hav e beenwritten by a scribe w ho w as worried by inposita .

The Greek word d vov means a nut .

”

Hart on Theophrastus IX, xi, 9 , from which Pliny tookhis account , says that pe

'

Àa w a must here mean‘

dark , ’ i.e .

red.

”


nucem vero ipsam in mulso aut passo v e l cum sesima .

trahit pituitam e t bilem per alvum. oris ulcera sanat ,ad nomas oris folium eum me l le e stur .

XLI. Tertium genus tithymalli paralium vocatur

sive t ithymallis folio rotundo, caule palmum a lto ,ramis rubentibus , semine albo, quod colligitur in

cipiente uva e t siccatum t eritur sumiturque acetabulimensura ad purgat iones .

XLII. Quartum genus he lioscopion appe llant , foliis

poreillacae , ramulis stantibus a radice quat tuor aut

quinque rubentibus , semipedali altitudine , suoi plenis .

hoc circa oppida nascitur semine albo columbis gratissimo ; nomen accepit , quon iam capita cum sole cir

cumagit . trahit bilem per inferna in oxyme lite

dimidio ace tabulo , ce teri usus qui characiae .

XLIII. Qu intum cyparit tian vocant propter foliorum similitudinem, cau le gemino aut triplici , nascent em in campestribus . eadem vis quae helioscopioaut characiae .

XLIV . Sextum platyphyllon vocant , alii corym

biten , ali i amygdaliten a simi litudine . nec ullius

latiora sunt fol ia . pisce s mecat , alvum solv it radicev e l foliis v e l succ in mulso aut aqua mulsa drachmis

quattuor . detrahit privatim aquas .

An adjectiv e meaning by the sea .

An adjectiv e meaning looking at the sun . See inf ra .

For privatim see note on XXIV, 28.


XLV. Septimum dendroides cognominant , alii

cobion , alii leptophyllom, in petris nascens , comosis

simum ex omnibus , maximis 1 cauliculis rubentibus ,

et semine eopiosissimum, e iusdem e ffectus cu ius

characias .

2

XLVI. Apios ischas s ive raphanos agria , iuncos

duos aut tres spargit in terra rubent es , foliis rutae .

radix cepae , sed amplior, quare quidam raphanum

silv estrem v ocant . intus habet mammam candidam,

e xtra cort ice s nigros . nascitur in montosis asperis,

aliquando et in herbosis . e ffoditur vere tusaque in

fictili mergitur, deiectoque quod supernatat reliquus

sucus purgat utraque parte sesquiobolo in aqua mulsa .

sic et hydropicis datur acetabulimensura . inspargitur

et aridae radi cis farina potioni . aiunt superiorem

1 maximis plerique codd. , Detlef sen, M ayhojf maxime r

M ayhajf coni . comosum [corruptum in comosissimum (como.

sumosum) per dittographiam] maxime .

2characias] characian coni. M ayhofi

'

characia aut care ciacodd .

M eximis is pe rhaps a strange epithet to be applied to thediminut iv e cauliculis . It may mean that the minor stems arecomparat iv ely large , but the conj ecture of Mayhoff is plausible ,that Pliny w rote comosum maxime, with no epithet

3 16

BOOK XXVI. XLV . 7I—XLVI . 73

XLV. The seventh kind is surnamed dendr0 1des ,and is cal led by some cobios , and by others leptophyllos . It grows among rocks , and is the mostthi ckly 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 outon the ground tw o or three rush—like stalks of a

reddish colour with leave s like those of rue . The

root is like that of an onion , but bigger, and this is thereason why some cal l it the wild radish . Inside ithas a white pap, outside , dark skins . It grows inrough , hil ly spots , sometimes also in grass land .

Dug up in spring , it is pounded and immersed in an

earthen ve sse l .“ After throw ing away what floatson the surface they use the juice that remains as a

purge and emetic , the dose be ing an obolus and a

half in hydrome l . Prepared after this fashion a doseof an ace tabulum is also given for dropsy . The driedroot powdered is also sprinkled in a draught . They

going with cauliculis except the participle rubentibus .

Dioscorides is not of much help ; he says (IV, 164 , 9 ) a'

Se‘

c’

v

r ais 7re'

rpa t ; dudpevog, 86 V8p0 6 181): Sè KaÀozîpevos, dp<fitÀag$rjgd 9ev Ka i w oÀ6xouos, tina:? tirre

'

pvflpog roòs KÀ0Î 50 0 9 .

Theophrastus d oes not help us in deciding the meaningof mergitur and supernatat, but Dioscorides is suggestiv e . Hiswords are (IV, o

’

m'

oa t Sè BovÀnfleis K6777 6 rds fif{as Ka i

BaÀcbv eis Kpa'r'

qpia v 58aros av vrdpar r e, Ka i ròv e’

ò tarcipe‘

r0 v

6710’

v m epqîi dvar\éyw v £1jpa t ve °

7 0 157 0 1) rpt'

a. fi…w fio'

Àta w 0 9év raà'

vw «a l «circo «a9mfpa . In Pliny w e hav e“

immersed in an

earthen v essel, ” in Dioscorides throw into a bowl of waterand stir .

”In Pliny again the floating part is throw n away

and the remainder used ; in Dioscorides (unless, unnaturally ,£rîpaw e gov erns ;Si{as) it is collected, dr ied and used. DidPliny follow a diff erent account or did he read cirroBaÀa

‘

w wherenow is read dvar\éyw v

Apios't


partem e ius v omitione bile s extrahere , inferioremper alvum f aqua i .

1

XLVII. Termina discutit quodcumque panaces ,vettonica praeterquam a cruditate , peucedani sucus e t

inflationes , ructus gignens , item aceri radix daucumv e ,

si lactucae medo sumatur . ladanum Cyprium pe tuminteraneorum v it iis occurr it , gent ianae farina ex aquatepida fabae magnitudine , plantago mane sumpta

duabus lingulis e t tertia papav eris in vin i cyathis

quattuor non v et eris . datur et in somnum euntibus

addite nitro v e l polenta , si multo post cibum detur.

cole infunditur hemina suci v e l in febri.1 taqua

’

r codd . aquam Ianus : aeque Detlef sen : in aqua

M ayhofi'

, qui cani. (e Dioscoride) sed totam utraque .

Dioscorides (IV, 175 ) has : 7 0 151 77; 7 0 p.èv d flev p.e'

pos Tfi9

piÙ/75“ Ànpd9èv 8t

’

e’

p. e'rw v aya xoÀnv Ka t gbÀe

'

yua , r ò 5è wpa; 7 fi ;illyxarw Kd 9a t

'

p6 t , 0 Àn Bè Ànndfleîo'a dpd>orépas rds Kafldpaets mveî .

The last clause has only agua to correspond to it in the MSS .

of Pliny ; hence Mayhe ff’

s conjecture (for the MSS . aqua ) sedtotam utroque. This suggestion implies that a scribe ’s eye

passed from aloum to utr]aque. This i s the least un satisfactorysolution yet proposed of this part icular difficulty, but there areother perplexing features of the chapter besides the one

mentioned here .

(I) xo'

1rre rds ;St'

Zag shows that tusa is tusa radix, but nascitur

in the sentence abov e refers to the plant . This change of

subject causes no diffi culty, but the last sentence of Pliny,corresponding to the first sentence in the sect ion of

Dioscorides , contains an ambiguous and perplexing eius .

Does this refer to the plant or to the root ? Littré trans latesit de la racine ,

”but the words of Dioscorides , r ò 8è 7rpòs

‘ ‘rfi

p'

t’

{g (scil. p.e’

pos) min o xa90 ipa , can only mean the part near

the root purges by ste e l it cannot mean the low er part

of the root purges by stee l .” Pliny translates as though it

were 7 6 Sè xa’

ww p.e’

pos'n

'

7’

s The pèv clause may mean

the upper part of this root , although is strangelyplaced and could more naturally be trans lated : Of this

plant the part abov e the‘

reot etc.

”Furthermore , it is odd to

3 1 8


XLVIII. Agaricum pe tum ebolis tribus in viniv et eris cyatho une l ieni mede tur , e panace omnium

generum radix in mu lse , sed teucria praecipue potaarida e t decocta quantum manus capiat in acetiheminis tribus ad heminam .

1 inlinitur eadem ex

aceto aut , si tolerari non possit , ex fico v e l aqua .

polemonia bibitur ex vine , vettonica drachma in

oxyme litis cyathis tribus , aristolochia ut contra ser

pente s . argemonia septem diebus in cibo sumpta

lienem consumere dicitur , agaricum in aceto mulsoebolis duobus . nymphae ae heracliae radix in v ino

pe ta et ipsa consumit . cissanthemus drachma bisdie sumpta in vin i albi cyathis duobus per die s XLlienem dicitur paulatim emitt e re per urinam . pro

dest e t hysopum cum fico decoctum , lenchit idis radixdecocta priusquam semen demit tat , peucedani quoqueradix et l ien i e t renibus . l ien succ aceri pote

2con

sumitur— praecordiis e t ilibus utilissimae radice s 2

clymeni semen pe tum diebus XXX pendere denari iin vino albe , v ettonicae farina exme lle e t ace to scillitepota , radix lenchi tidis in aqua . teucrium inlinitur,

item scordium cum cera , agaricum cum farina e feno

Gracco.

1 tribus ad heminam. S ic dist. M ayhoff tribus . ad

flemina Detlef sen .

2 lien suco acori pe te M ayhcfi' lien aceri pe tu Detlef sen

lienis acari (nce om. ante aco) V R (1 x peto vel potu codd.

2utilissima radi ce coni. M aghaj

'

, qui lacunam ante

clymeni in textu ponit.

Adflemina is a elev er emendation , but the chapter dealswith diseases of the spleen.

3 2 0

BOOK XXVI. XLVIII. 75—77

XLVIII. Agaric taken in drink , the dose be ingthre e eboli in one cyathus of old wine , is good ferdisorders of the spleen , as is the root in honey wineof all kinds of panaces , but best of all is teneria , driedand taken in drink by boi ling dow n to one heminaa handful of it with three heminae of vinegar. In

vinegar it is also used as a lin iment , or , if that—cannotbe berne , in figs or water . Polemonia is taken in

wine , or a drachma of beteny in thre e cyathi of

oxyme l , or aristolochia as used for snake bite .

Argemonia , taken in fe ed on seven consecutive days ,is said to reduce the spleen , and so are tw o eboli of

agaric in oxyme l . It is reduced also by the root ofnymphaea heraclia taken in wine or by itse lf . Cissanthemus , if a drachma is taken twice daily in tw o

cyathi of white wine for forty days , is said to carry off

the spleen gradual ly in the urine . Use ful too is a

de coction of hyssop with fig , or of the root of lenchitisbe fore it sheds its seed , whi le a decoction of root ofpeucedanum is good for both spleen and kidneys .The spleen is reduced by the juice of aceren takenby the mouth— the roots are very use ful for troubleof the hypochondria and grain

— by the seed of

clymenus taken in drink for thirty days , the dosebe ing a denarius by we ight in white wine , bypowdered heteny taken in honey and squil l vinegar ,and by root of lenchitis in water . Teucrium is usedas liniment , l ikewise scordium with w ax, er agaricwith powdered fenugreek .

It seems mest natural to mend the grammar of thispassage by making praecordiis radices a parenthesis, a

fav ourite trick of Pliny, and understanding consumit or utilebefore clymeni .

Notice beth forms, teucrio and teucrium, in the samechapter.

VOL. V II.

Sple nictroubles.


XLIX . Ve sicae mal is contraque calcule s , gravissimis cruciat ibus , ut diximus, auxilie est polemonia

ex vino pota , item agaricum, plantago foliis v e l radicepotis ex passo , vettonica ut in iecinere diximus , itemramiti pota atque inlita , eadem ad strangurias

e fficacissima . quidam ad calcule s v ettonicam et

v erbenacam e t mi llefolium aequ is portionibus ex aqua

pro singulari remedio bibere suadent . strangurias

discuti e t dictamne certum est , item quinque folio

dece cto ad tertias in vino. hoc e t enterece licis dariatque inlini utilissimum est . Xiphi quoque radixsuperior urinam ciet . infantibus entere ce licis 1 datur

ex aqua et inlini tur ; ve sicae v itiis peucedani sucus ,infantium ramiti et umbilicis eminentibus psyl lion

inlinitur . urinam cient anagallides , acori radicisdecoctum v e l ipsa trita potaque , et omnia vesicaevitia ,

2 calcule s e t herba et radix ce tyledonis itemque

genitalium inflammatienem omnem pari pendere et

caulis e t seminis e t murrae . ebulum t eneris cumfoliis tritum ex vino pe tum calcule s pellit , inpositumte stes sanat . erigeron quoque cum farina turis et vinodulci te stium inflammatienes sanat . symphyti radixinlita ent ere ce las cohibe t , genitalium nomas hypo

1 infant ibus entere celicis] S ic dist. M aghaj e Dioscoride IV20 : e

’

vr epomyr\moîg r e mu 5t'

ozS‘

r i;v e’

ndvco ;iija v (3 0 . 7 0 0 f t<f>iov )c’

v 710 7 43 oòv libe r i .2 Ante calcules addunt de r a : depellit in textu Mayhaff

demit coni . Brahman .

See XXV,2 3 .

In XXVI, 3 5, 1 drachma of betony in 3 cyathi of warmwater is prescribed for the liv er, but nomention is made there

of bladder trouble .

It is easier to supply from cient suitable v erbs to gov ern

calculas and inflammationem, than it is with Mayhoff to read

3 2 2


cisthis alba . artemisia quoque datur contra calcule sex vine dulci et ad stranguriam , dolores ve sicae sedatex vine radi x nymphaeae heracliae .

L. Eadem vis cre thmo ab Hippocrate admodum

laudatae .

1est autem inter eas quae eduntur silves

trium herbarum— hanc certe apud Callimachum

adponit rustica il la Hecale— speciesque e latae 2

hortens iae . cau l is unus palmum altus , semen

ferv ens , odoratum ceu libanotidis , rotundum ; siccatum rumpitur , habe t intus nueleum candidum , quemaliqui cachrym vocant . folia pinguia albicantv eluti olivae , crassiera et sa lsa gustu ,

radices digiticrassitudine tre s aut quattuor. nascitur in maritimis

petresis . e stur cruda coctav e 3 cum e lere , adoratisaporis et iucundi ; serv atur e tiam in muria praecipuiusus 4 ad strangurias folio v e l caule v e l radice ex vine .

colorem quoque corporis grat iorem facit , verumlargier inflat ienes .

5alvum solv it decocto , urinam et

a renibus umerem trahit sicut alcimae siccae farina

1 laudatae Hard., M aghaj

'

Iaudato Detlef sen : laudata

codd . (sc. v is) .2elatae codd . , M ayhajf elatinae Urlichs , Detlefsen : batis

Hermalaus Barbarus althaeae vel malv ae coni. M ayhafl'

.

3cruda coctav e M ayhaff erudum coctumv e codd.

4prae cipui usus Gelenius , Detlef sen : praecipue ei usus M ay.

hajf : praecipue usus (aut usque) codd. : vis ei ususque coni .

M ay .hoffinfiationes] inflammationes coni . M ayhojj

'.

alcimae Ianus , Detlef sen, M ayhoff, cf . 45 varia codd.

Elate w as a term for the sprout- tips of the dwarf palm,

which w as not cultivated.

Or, stony .

”

BOOK XXVI. XLIX. 8 1—L. 83

good for corroding u lcers of the gen itals . Artemisiatoo in swe e t wine is given for stone and for

strangury ; root of nymphaea heraclia in wine re

liev es pains of the bladder.

L. The same property is to be found in crethmos ,

a plant very highly praised by Hippocrate s . It i salso one of the wild plants that are eaten— at anyrate in Callimachus the peasant Hecale puts it on

the table— and a spe cies of garden e late .

“ It has

one stem a span high , and a he t se ed , scented likethat of libanotis , and round . When dried it bursts ,and has inside a white kerne l , which some cal lcachrys . The leave s are fleshy , and whitish likethose of the olive only thicker, and salt to the taste ;there are three or four roots , of the thickne ss of a

finger. It grows in rocky place s by the sea . It iseaten , raw er boiled , with cabbage ,° and has a

pleasant , aromatic taste ; it is a lso preserved in brine .

It is e special ly use ful fer strangury , the leave s , stem,

or root be ing taken in wine . The complexion also of

the skin is improved by it , but tee large a dose cause sflatulence . A decoction re laxe s the bowe ls , bringsaway urine and humours from the kidneys , as doesthe powder of dried ale ima taken in wine ,

“ and

I hav e adopted Mayhefi"s conjecture because (in this

chapter at least ) the form used is crethmos (fem) . Cruda

might easily be taken for erudum, spelt cruda. The MSS .

have erudum coctumve without v ariant , and were it not for

hanc and largiar one might take the neuters to be carelesswriting, fer there w as an alternat iv e form crethmum.

With the reading of Mayhoff taken in wine it reliev esstrangury more efiicacieusly if daucum is added.

”There is

some uncertainty about the conj ecture a lcimae of Jan,

accepted by both Detlefsen and Mayhofl’

, as it scarcelyaccounts for the confusion of the MSS , which hav e alcme,almoe, aime and aloe.

3 2 5


in 1 vino pe ta , stranguriam e fficacius addite dauce .

lieni quoque utilis adversus serpente s bibitur , iumen

tis quoque in pituita aut stranguria , hordeo inspersa

succurrit .

LI. Anthyllion2est lenti simillima quae in v ino

pota ve sicas vitus liberat , sanguinem sistit , altera

anthyllis chamaepityi3 simi lis , flore purpureo, odore

gravi , radice intubi , v e l magis medetur . .

4

LII. Cepaea , simi lis pe rcilacae , nigriere radice , sed

inutil i , nascens in litoribus harenesis , gustu amara .

in v ino cum asparagi radice ve sicae plurimum

prodest .

LIII Eadem praestat hypericen (alii chamaepityn ,

alii cerissum appe llant) e lerace e frutice , tenu i , cubi

tali , rubente , folio ruts e , odore acri , semine in siliqua

1 in codd. r a Detlef sen : e codd. d x M ayhoff, qui postfarina comma ponit.

2 Anthyll ion vulg. e Dioscoride, M ayhaff canthylli en VE

Detlef sen . Postea quoque non anthyllis sed canthyllis codd. ,

Detlef sen.

3chamaepityi M ayhofff (Dioscor. III 13 6 (a v9vÀÀis) xa.p.a z «

m f u‘

i è'

euce 1 0 8 dvflos‘

pija. w a rrep KLXOpL'

0 v .

4 Post medetur lacunam indicai M ayhajff Detlef sen Vel

magis medetur ante cepaea ponit puncto anteposita . Dioscor.

III 13 6 7) Sè ‘rfi XO.M LT NTUL oy.oia Ka i e

’

mÀnrrrmw v

Bonfimua a v v of vne'

Àvn m vepe'

vn, unde M ayhojf puta t excidisse

f ere comitialibus in oxymelite .

It is easier to supply a v erb (such as sana t) to gov ernstranguriam than it is to emend to stranguriae with Mayhoff .

3 2 6


n igre maturescente cum hordeo. natura semin i

spissandi , alvum sistit , urinam ciet , ve sicae cum vino

bibitur .

LIV. Est aliud hypericen , quod aliqui care1

appe llant , folio t amaricis— et sub e a nascitur— sed

pinguioribus foliis e t minus 2 rubentibus , odoratum ,

palmo altius , suave , lenit er acutum . vis semini

excalfactoria , e t ide e inflammationem facit , sed

stomacho non inutile , prae cipuum ad stranguriam , si

exulcerata non sit ve sica . medetur et pleuriticis ex

vine pe tum , LV . ve sicae autem cal lithrix trita

simul eum cumino e t data ex vino albo. verbenaca

quoque cum foliis de cocta ad tertias v e l radix e ius

e mulso ca lide calcule s e icit , item perpressa , quae

Arreti et in Illyrico nascitur , in aqua decocta ex

tribus heminis ad unam pota , tri folium ex vino

sumptum e t chrysanth emum , anthemis quoque

calcule s eicit , parvis a radice foliis quini s , caulibus

1caro codd. , Detlef sen : corin e Dioscoride Hermolaus Bar

barus : caron vulg . , M ayhofi'

.

2 minus] minutis M ayhoff e Dioscoride, qui scribit (III 157)q'>v'

ÀÀov exec. w apanÀrjaw v r q'

3 ‘rîjg e

’

pa'

xns, Ka i

À1n apa'

rrepov Ka i. e’

pvdpov . Fbrtasse minoribus .

Or astringent , perhaps thickening.

It is tempting to emend to minoribus (rather than Mayhe ff

’

s minutis) se as to bring Pliny closer to Dioscorides, w hohas p.t xpérepov On the other hand the MSS . giv e

3 2 8

BOOK XXVI. LIII. 85—LV . 87

which is black , is in a pod , and it ripens at the same

time as barley . This seed is of a bracing “ qual ity ,checks diarrhoea and promote s urine ; it is takenwith wine for bladder trouble s .LIV. There is another hypericen , called by some

care ,having a leaf like that of the tamarisk— it grows

underne ath it— but me re fle sby and le ss red .

“ It isscented , more than a span high , with a swe e t and

rather pungent ° taste . The seed is of a he atingnature and there fore cause s inflammat ion , but it isnot injurious to the stomach ; it is particularly goodfor strangury , if the bladder is not u lcerated . Takenin wine it is also good fe r pleurisy , LV. as moreoveris cal lithrix for the bladder if be aten up with cumminand adm in istered in white wine . Verva in t e e if

boi led down with the le aves to one third , e r its rootin warm honey wine , e xpe ls stone from the bladder ,as doe s also perpressa , which grows near Arre tiumand in Il lyricum ; it is taken in drink , boi led downin wate r from thre e heminae to one . Tre foil , takenIn w me , and chrysanthemum , have the same e ff ect .Stone i s expe l led a lso by anthemis , which has fiv esmall leave s grow ing from the root , tw o long stems

no v ariant , and it is hard to see w hy a scribe should alter an

easy reading, whether minoribus or minutis, to minus . It is

to be noted that Pliny has pinguioribus et minus rubentibus , but Dioscorides p. t 6'r epov Sè «a i Àtnapa

'

rr epov Ka i e’

pv9p6v .

If the Greek before Pliny (or his reader) had the adjectiv es inPliny’

s order, without connecting part icles . (Àm apaîrepov ,

p.t o'

7 qo0 v , épv9pdv ) , it is just possible that they were takento mean

“

more fleshy and a little less red . So, after longhesitat ion , I hav e kept the MSS . reading. Note that Plinyread pvpt

'

xns for e’

peim75 .

Acutus when used of sapores seems to mean merelysharp acer, on the contrary, means not only pungent ,

but salty and with a v inegary flavour .


longis duobus , flore roseo , radice s tritae per seJ

[ ce ilaver crudum . f 1

LVI. S ilaus nascitur glariosis e t perennibus rivis ,cubitalis apii similitudine . coquitur ut olus acidummagna utilitat e ve sicae , quae si scabiem sentiat ,

panacis radice sanatur , aliter inutilis v esicis . calcu

le s pe llit malum erraticum radicis libra in vin i cengiedecocta ad dimidias— inde heminae sumuntur pertriduum, re licum ex vino 2— e t urtica marina e t

daucum e t plantaginis semen ex vino .

LVII. Et herba Fulviana trita ex vino, e t haecnomen inv entoris habet , nota tractantibus .

3

LVIII. Urinas cie t scordion , te stium tumore ssedat hyoscyamum , genitalibus medetur peucedani

1cei lav er erudum VE ecu a liquot codd Detlef sen.

M ayhoff ante cei lacunam indicat ; seu vulg.

2v ine M ayhoff cum plerisque codd. add. conicie d

cumcio aliquot codd. , Detlef sen, qui etiam Pucine coni. XIV 60ce ll.

3 tractantibus] Usque ad uno ut M ayhaff distinguo.

This is a locus desperatus . I hav e followed Mayhoff ,w ho marks a lacuna after se. The rea®g of V and E lookslike the ending of a word in - ceum or —ocus, but there is no

plant (except chalceos) the genitiv e of which would end in- cei, and that chalcei is the right reading is mest unlikely.

The reading ceu (adopted by Detlefsen ) is specious ; the wordbeing common in Pliny. The sense , as it were raw lav er,is odd, and so is the grammar, especially as lav or is femin ine ,for radices as it stands is v ery like a pendent nominat iv e .

The v ulgate seu is translated by Littré comme le lav ereru .

”But this woul d be ceu . (Lav er w as a water plant ,

perhaps water cress. Pliny may hav e intermingled drasticpurges with mild and suav e foods.

The word occurs here only. Its description is like the

accoun t of sion in Dioscorides II 127 , and sion laver, whichhas just been mentioned. The MSS . show no variants. It

may possibly be a portmanteau word (silau) .

3 3 °


sucus , ex .me lle semen , stranguriae agaricum ebolistribus in vin i v e t eris cyatho uno , trifolii radixdrachmis duabus in vino, dauci una drachma v e l

seminis . ischiadici sem ine et foliis ery throdani

tritis sanantur , panace pot e e t infricato, polemonia ,

aristolochiae decocte folii. agarico quidem et nervus

qui platus appellatur e t umerorum dolor sanatur

e bolis tribus in vini v et eris cyatho uno pe te . quinquefolium ischiadicis e t bibitur e t inponitur , itemscamonia 1 de cocta , e t cum horde i farina . semen

hyperici utriusque bibitur ex vino . sedis vitia et

adtritus ce lerrime sanat plantago , condylomataquinque folium , sed ea in 2 callum iam 3 conversa 4

cyclamini radix ex aceto . anagallidum caeru le a

proeident iam sedis re tro agit , e diverso rubensproritat . cotyledon condylomata et haemorrhoidas

mire curat , te stium tumores acori radix decocta inv ino tritaque inlita . int ertrigines megat fieri Catoabsinthium Ponticum se cum habentibus . alii adi

ciunt e t pule ium , quod ie iunus quis 5 legerit , si postse allige t , inguinis dolore s prohibet aut sedat coeptos .

LIX. Inguinalis , quam quidam argemonion

vocant , pass im in v epribus nascens ut prosit in manu

tantum habenda est .

1scamonia] Ante decocta cult addere in aceto (ex Dioscoride)

M ayhojff . Ante cum om. et vulg.

2sed ea in Detlef sen, M ayhoff sed eam VRE .

3callum iam Detlef sen , M ayhoff calumniam aut om. codd .

4 conv ersa Detlef sen , M ayhoff conv ersam - um) codd .

quis codd . qui Gd enius . Ante ieiunus add . si V2 S illig.

Detlef sen.

The Achilles tendon .

Mayhoff would add in v inegar, suggested by a parallelpassage in Dioscorides . This addition would make morenatural the et before cum.

3 3 2

BOOK XXVI. LVIII. 89—L1X. 9 2

strangury by thre e - eboli dose s of agaric in one

cyathu s of old wine , by tw o- drachmae close s of rootof tre foil in wine , and by ene - drachma dose s of

daucum or of its se ed . Sciatica is cured by poundedse ed and leave s of erythrodanus , by panace s taken indrink and rubbed on the affe cted part , by polemonia ,

and by a decoction of the le aves of aristolochia .

Agaric inde ed cure s both the tendon called broadand pain in the shoulders , the dose be ing thre e eboli

taken in one cyathus of old wine . For sciaticacinque foi l is both taken in drink and applied , as isal so a de coction of scammony with barley me aladded . The seed of e ither kind of hype ricum istaken in wine . Affe ctions and chafings of the seatare cured very qu ickly by plantain , condylomata bycinque foi l ; if however the se have alre ady be come

cal lous , by cyclamen root in vinegar. The blueanagall is pushe s back prolapsus of the anu s ; the red

anagal lis on the contrary make s it w orse . Cotyledonis wonderful ly good treatment fe r condylomata and

for pile s ; se is , for swol len te sticle s , the applicationof root of aceren , pounded and boi led down in

wine . Cato says that those carrying on the ir pe rsonsPentic wormwood never suffer from chafing be twe enthe thighs . Other authoritie s add pennyroyal tothe list of remedies this , gathered by a fast ing man

and tied behind him , prevent s pains in the gre in e r

re l ieve s the se which have begun a lready .

LIX. Inguinalis groin—wort called by some Inguina

argemonion , a plant growing anywhere in briarpatche s , needs on ly to be he ld in the hand to be of

benefit .

See E .R. 159 .


LX. Pane s sanat panaces ex me lle , plantago cum

sale , quinque folium , persollatae radix ut in strumis ,item damasonium , ve rbascum cum sua radice tusumvine aspersum folioque involutum e t ita in cinerecale factum ut inponatur calidum. experti adfirma

vere plurimum re ferre , s1 v 1rge 1nponat nuda ie iunaieiuno e t manu supina tangens dicat : Negat Apol lo

pestem posse cre scere cui nuda Virgo restinguat ,

atque ita re trorsa manu ter dicat totiensque despuant

ambo . medetur e t radix mandragorae ex aqua ,

radicis scamoniae decoctum cum me lle , sideritis cumadipe ve tere contusa , marruv ium cum axungia

vetere , v el chrysippies cum ficis pinguibus . e t haecab inventore habe t nomen .

LXI. Venerem in totum adimit , ut diximus ,

nymphaea He raclia , e adem seme l pe ta in XL dies ,insomnia quoque veneris a ieiuno pota e t in cibosumpta . inlita quoque radix geni talibus inhibe t nonsolum venerem sed et affluentiam geniturae . eb

id corpus alere vocemque dicitur. adpe tentiam

veneri s facit radix e xiphio superior data potni1

in vino , item quam cremnon agrion appe l lant ,ormenos agrios cum polenta contritus .

1potni cod. (I, M ayhojff potu cateri codd Detlef sen.

See XXV 75 and the note in which it is pointed out

that Pliny difi’

ers (as the present passage clearly show s) fromDioscorides. In fact in the present sect ion of XXVI the tw oare v ery unl ike .

Or, or. The conjunction et often has to be translatedin this w ay .

3 3 4


LXII. Sed inter panca mirabilis est orchis herbasive serapias , foliis porri , caule palmeo , flore purpureo, gemina radice t esticulis sim i l i , ita ut maior

sive , ut aliqui dicunt , t enuior1ex aqua pota excite t

libidinem , minor sive me llior e lacte caprino in

hibeat . qu idam folio scillae e sse dicunt leviore ac

minore , caule spinoso . radice s sanant oris ulcera ,

thoracis pituitas , alvum sistunt ex vino potae .

concitatricem v im habe t 2 satyrion . duo e ius generauna longi oribus foliis quam oleac , caule quattuor

digitorum , flore purpureo , radice gemina ad formamhomin is te stium alt ern is anni s intume scente ae

re sidente . altera satyrie s orchis cognominatur et

f feminam °e sse creditam . f distinguitur inter

nodiis e t rame siore frutice , radice fas cini . nascitur

fere iuxta mare . haec tumores e t vitia part ium

1 tenuior codd . : durior Caesarius : plenior ex Dioscoride

con i . M ayhoff . Vide notam.

2 habet codd . habet et M ayhoff .

3 feminam esse creditam codd . : feminam esse creditur

Detlef sen : femin a esse eredita est M ayhojj’

, qui inv enio

excidisse coni . : feminam esse credunt coni . Warmington .

Fartasse f emina esse creditur .

All the MSS . hav e tenuior, a word that is scarcely a

contrast tomollior . Dioscorides say s of one ò'

pxtg , not the one

equated with oepam'

as , (exa )) piZa v 780 À80 6 t577, 3 t 7rÀv7v ,a

er emîv , w s e

’

Àa ia v , 7 77v p.èv a vw , 7 77v Sè xarw re'

pw , Ka i mv p.èv

77À77p77, 7 77v Bè ;…taÀax77v Ka i. pvorjv (III There woul d bemuch to be said for the conjectures durior and plenior were itnot that tenuior, the reading of all MSS , is far harder to

understand . Perhaps Pliny had a Greek text w ith or'

ev77 asepithet of 17due» p

'

ièa . Pliny’

s words imply the existence of

differences in nomenclature .

I hav e left the ungrammat ical read ing of the MSS .

unalte red, but obeliz ed.

3 3 6

BOOK XXVI. LXII. 95—96

LXII. But very high on the list of wonders is theplant orchis , or serapias , which has the le ave s of

leek , a stem a span high , and a purple flower .

The root has tw o tubers , like te sticle s , so that thelarger , or , as some put it , the thinner ,

“ taken in

water e xcite s de sire the smaller , or softer , taken ingoat ’s m ilk checks it . Seme say that this orchis hasle ave s l ike those of the squ i ll , only smoother and

smal ler , and a prickly stem . The roots cure sore sin the mouth and phlegm on the che st ; taken in

wine they are constipating . Satyrion is a sexualstimulant . There are tw o kinds of it : ene withlonger leave s than those of the olive , a stem four

fingers high , purple blossom, and a double rootshaped like human te sticle s , which swe l ls and sub

sides again in alternate years . The other kind hasthe further name of satyrios orchis , and is thoughtto be f ema le .

“ It is distingu ished from the former

kind by the spaces between the joints , by its more

branchy , bushy shape also by its roe t ’s be ing like aphal lus .

“ The plant is general ly found near the sea .

Or, by its stem’

s hav ing many branches . The wordf rutex 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 v ulgate before Sillig f ascinis utili, and the other

MSS . (radice) fascini . The meaning is surely that the root

is not , like the former kind , ad formam hominis testium, but

like a phallus. Se the Latin Thesaurus . I think, howev er,that the MSS . reading, retained without comment by bothDetlefsen and Mayhofl , can scarcely be quite right . Perhapsw e shoul d add simili, which would explain the f ascinis utile ofthe v ulgate , fascini simili being not v ery unl ike f ascinis utili.

It is strange that this account of satyrion should appear here ,just before the chapter (LXIII) in which that plant is

described. Commentators think that Pliny has been con

Orchis.

Satyric


carum cum polenta inlita sedat v e l per se trita .

superiori s radix in lacte ovis colonicae data nervosintendit , eadem ex aqua remittit .

LXIII. Graeci satyrion foliis lilii rubris , minoribuse t tribus non amplius e terra exeuntibus tradunt ,cau le levi , cubitali , nudo , radice gemina , cu iusinferior pars e t maior mare s gignat , superior ac minorfeminas . e t aliud genus satyrii erythraicon appe llant , semine v iticis maiore , levi , duro , radicis corticerufo ; intus album includi sapore subdulce . fere 1 in

montuosis inv eniri . venerem , e tiam si omninomanu

t eneatur radix , stimulari , adeo 2 si bibatur in vinoaustero , arie tibus quoque et hircis segnioribus in potudari , e t a Sarmatia 3

equis ob adsiduum laborem

pigrioribus in coitu , quod vitium pre sedamum v ocant .

restinguit v im e ius aqua mulsa aut lactuca sumpta .

in totum quidem Graeci , cum concitat ionem hanc

v olunt sign ificare , satyrion appe l lant , sic et cra

taegin cognominant es et the lygenen e t arreno

gonon , quarum semen te stium simi le e st . tithymal li quoque ramorum medullam habent es ad

1 fere VRd, M aghaj’

fertur E , Detlef sen .

2adeo codd . magis adeo vulg. at eo magis coni . M ayhoff.

3 Sarmat ia Ianus , Detlef sen, M ayhoff Sarmata aut Sarmat

codd. Sarmatis vulg.

fused by the fact that Greeks gav e the name satyrion to all

plants supposed to be aphrodisiac. See 599 : in totum

quidem Graeci testium simile est. Indeed the whole of

96, concitatricem remittit, reads like a hasty after

thought , and contains tw o ungrammat ical phrases, if w e can

trust our best MSS.

The pun ctuation of the Lat in text is that of Mayhoif it

is based on the Greek of Dioscorides .

The reading is v ery un certain . We should certainlyexpect the v ulgate a S armatis, by the Sarmatians,” but a

3 3 8


venerem premiere s fieri dicuntur. prodigiosa suntquae circa hoc tradit Theophrastus , auctor alioqui

gravis , septuageno coitu durasse libidinem contactu

herbae cuiusdam cuius 1 nomen genusque non pesuit .

LXIV . S ideritis adalligata varices minuit e t sinedolore praestat .

2podagrae morbus rarior solebat

e sse non medo patrum avorumque memoria , verume tiam nostra , peregrinus et ipse , nam si Ital iae fuisse tantiquitus , Latinum nomen inv enisset . insanabilis

non e st credendus , quippe quoniam e t in multisspente desiit e t in pluribus cura . medentur radice s

panacis cum uv a passa , sucus hyoscyami cum farinav e l semen , scordion ex ace to, hiberis uti dictum e st ,

verbenaca cum axungia trita , cyclamini radix , cuiusdecoctum et pernienibus . podagras re frige rat radixe xiphio, semen e psyllio, cicuta cum lithargyro aut

axungia , aiz oum in primo impe tu podagrae rubentis ,

hoc est calidae . utrilibe t vere conv enit erigeron cum

axungia , plantagin is folia trita addite sale modico ,

argemonia tusa ex me lle . medetur et verbenacainlita , aut si pede s in aqua macerentur in qua decoctasit , LXV. e t lappago , similis anagal lidi , nisi e ssetramosior ac pluribus foliis , gravis odoris . quae talis

1cuiusdam cuius multi codd. cuius VE, M ayhoff .

2praestat] persanat f , Hard.

See H .P. IX 18, 9 .

Book XXV 88.

The phr ase quae talis est is generally taken to mean that

mollug0 is the name of the lappago which is like anagallis .

But the Latin can scarce ly mean that there are more than

3 40

BOOK XXVI. LXIII. 99—LXV . 1 0 2

said to become thereby more e xcited se xual ly . The

remarks on this subj e ct made by Theophrastus ,“

general ly a we ighty authority , are fabulous . He

says that the lust to have intercourse seventy time sin succe ssion has be en given by the touch of a certa inplant whose name and kind he has not mentioned .

LXIV . Tied to the part as an amule t sideritisreduce s varicose ve ins and does its work withoutpain . Gout w as a rarer disease within the memory ,

not only of our fathers and grandfathers , but also

of our ow n generation . It is also itse lf a fore igncomplaint ; had it e xisted in Ita ly in early time s itwould have rece ived a Latin name . It must not beconsidered incurable ,

for many case s have beencured w ithout treatment , and yet more with it .Use ful remedie s are roots of panaces with raisins ,juice of henbane with me al , or the se ed of henbane ,scordien in vinegar , hiberis as already prescribed ,

°

vervain beaten up with axle - grease , and the root ofcyclamen , a decoction of which is also good for

chilblains . Cooling applications for gouty pa ins aremade from xiphion root , psyllion seed , hemlock withlitharge er axle - gre ase , and aiz oiim for the first onsetof red , that is hot , gout . Good for e ither kind however is erigeron w ith axle - grease , plantain leave sbeaten up with a little salt added , and argemonia

pounded with honey . Verva in toomay be applied as

a remedy— e r the fee t may be soaked in the waterin which it has be en boi led— LXV. or the lappagothat is l ike anagal lis , but more branchy and le afy ,and with a strong sme ll . 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 plantto which talis refers.

CuresGout .


est mol lugo v ocatur ; simili s , sed asperioribus foliis ,asperugo . superioris e t sucus X 1 in vin i duebuscyathis cotidie sumitur.

LXVI. Praecipue vero liberat e e malo phycos

thalassion , id est fucus marinus , lactucae s imi lis , quicohehyliis subst erni tur , non podagrae modo sed

omnibus articulorum morbis inpositus priusquamarefiat .

1 tria autem genera e ius : latum e t alterumlongius , quadamtenus rubens , tertium crispis foliis ,

quo in Creta ve ste s t ingunt , omnia e iusdem usus .

Nicander e a et adve rsus serpente s in vino dedit .

salutare est e t semen e ius herbae quam psyllion

appe llav imusmade factum aqua , admixt is in heminamseminis re sinac Colophoniae coclearibus duebus , turi suno . laudantur e t mandragorae folia cum polentatunsa . talis vero tumentibus limus aquaticus cume le c subactus mire prodest , articulis sucus ex cen

t aurio minore , idem nervis utilissimus , item cen

tauris . vettoni ca nervis discurrentibus per'

scapulas ,umeris , spinae , lumbis , pota ut in iocin ere , articulis

quinque folium inpositum , mandragorae folia cum

polenta v e l radix recens tusa cum cucumere silve striv e l decocta in aqua , digitorum in p edibus rimis

polypodii radix , articulis sucus hyoscyami cum

1arefiat VT Ianus , Detlef sen, M ayhajf exarefiat d r vulg.

Apparently mollugo, but the possibil ity of a hiatus makes

one uncertain .

Or, with exarefiat , quite dry .

See Dioscorides IV 99 : 7 0 p.e'

v 7 1. (1 137 0 8 nÀa ‘rv'

, 7 6

Sè 15776q 65‘

Ka l. Ùrrogbocvmiéov , r ò Bè 0 5Àov curly Pliny’

s

la tum and longine , therefore , may refer to the leav es and notto the whole plant . See XIII 55 13 5 fe ll .

3 42


axungia , amomon suco decocte , item centunculusde cocta v el museus recens ex aqua obligatus donecinarescat , item lappae boariae radix e vino pota .

cyclaminos decocta in aqua pern iunculos curatomniaque al ia fr igoris v itia , perniunculos e t cotyledoneum axungia , fe lia ex batrachio, epithymi sucus .

clavos pedum extrahit ladanum eum castoreoverbenaca ex vine .

LXVII. Nunc peractis malis quae membrat imsentiuntur dicemus de ii s quae totis corporibus

grassantur . remedi a autem hae c communia in

v enio : ante omne s 1 potandam 2 dodecatheum , de

qua diximus , de inde panacis omnium generum

radice s , peculiarit er longinquis morbis e t s emen

int eraneorum v itiis , ad omne s vero dolores corporissucum e scordio , item v ettonicae quae pota colorem

plumbeum corpor is privatim emendat , gratiorem

reducit .

LXVIII. Geranien aliqui myrrin , a lii myrtidanappe l lant . s imi lis e st cicutae , minutioribus foliis et

cau le bre vier , rotunda , saporis e t odoris iucundi.

1ante omnes codd. ,

Detlef sen : aput auctores M aghaj'

, qui

multa s imilia eila t ex Plinio, et colon post inv enio2potandam Hard , cad. Dal . , Detlef sen : potanda E

,

M ayhoff potam aut potu multi codd.

There are a few peculiarities in this part of Pliny that

should be ment ioned, although no explanat ion (except haste )suggests itself . We hav e the formless structure of 5 105 , therepe tit ion of perniunculus , and its (apparent ly) sole use in

this section .

With Mayhefi”s reading : I find in my authorities that

the follow ing should be taken in drink .

”The deinde of the

next claus e suggests that the MSS . reading ante omnes is

correct , and the gender of potandam is explain ed by the factthat dodecatheum is a herba .

3 44

BOOK XXVI. LXVI. 1 0 5—LXVIII. 1 0 8

the decocted juice of amomum , a decoction too of

centunculus , or fre sh moss soaked in water and

bound round the part until the water drie s off , andalso root of lappa boaria taken in wine . Cyclamen

boiled down in water is a good remedy for chilblainsand for all other aff e ctions caused by cold ; forchilbla ins cotyledon toe with axle - grease , leave s of

batrachion and the juice of epithymum. Corns are

extracted from the fe e t by ladanum mixed withbeaver- oil , and by vervain in wine .

“

LXVII. Having now finished the compla ints thataffect separate limbs I shal l go on to de scribe thosethat attack the whole body . O f remedie s that aregeneral ly use ful I learn that the best is dodecatheum,

to be given in drink ,

“a plant I have a lready de

scribed °; next the roots of all kinds of panaces ,

e special ly good for long i l lne sses , and the se ed is usedfor inte stinal complaints ; for general bodily painshowever juice of scordion and a lso of be tony , whichtaken in drink is spe cific “ for removing a leadencolour of the skin and restoring a more ple asingcomplexion .

LXVIII. Geran ien is called by some myrris and

by others myrtidas . It re semble s hemlock , but

with smal ler leave s and shorter in the stem , round ,and of a pleasant taste and sme l l . In this w ay

See XXV 528 .

For privatim see note on XXIV 28.

According to Dioscorides another plant ; he says (IV 115)è'

ouce v et'

cp, pi{a v Sè Éx€ t ònop7jxn, dnaÀ7jv , w ep1depfi,773 € îa v Bpw 9fiva t . Round is a strange word to apply to

the plant , and Urlichs would add (of . the 7r€ptg$€pfi of

Dioscorides) radice before rotunda . Others hav e emended to

rotunda (sc. caule) . The leav es how ever are round .

Remeddisease

the w hc

body.


nostri sic eam t radunt , Graeci foliis paulo candidioribus quam malvae , caulibus tenuibus , pilosis ,ramosam ex int erv allis , binum palmerum , e t in hisfolia 1 inter quae in cacuminibus capitula sint gruum.

alterum genus foliis anemone s , div isuris longioribus ,radice mali modo rotunda , dulci , reficientibus se ab

imbecillitat e utilissima , e t fere talis vera e st .

bibitur centra phthisis drachma in cyathis vini tribusbis die , item contra inflatienes , et cruda idem praestat . suons radicis auribus mede tur , opisthotonis

semen drachmis quattuor cum pipere e t murra

pe tum . phthisis sanat e t plantagini s sucus , si bibatur , et ipsa de cocta in cibo 2

; ex sale e t oleo a somnematutino re frigerat . e adem datur iis quos atrophosv ocant int erpositis di ebus , ve tton ica vero phthisicisecligmate cum me l le , fabae magnitudine , agaricumpe tum eboli s duebus in passo , v e l daucum cum cen

taurio maiore in vino. phagedaenis— qued nomen

sine mode esurient ium e st , e t a l ias ulcerum— tithymal li medentur cum sesamis sumpti .LXIX . Inter mala un iversi corporis v igiliae sunt

plerisque . harum remedio monstratur panaces ,clymene s , aristolochia odore et peruncto capite ,

1 folia VR folius E vulg esse in his folia coni. M ayhoff.2 decocta in cibo ;] sic ex Dioscoride (Eup . II 3 8) dist.

M ayhojf .

Dioscorides (III 116) describes tw o kinds of y €pdvzov .

Of the first he says dvÀÀov epatov dvepw vn, e’

oxw pe'

vov, paxpo

7 € pov Be'

. This i s Pl iny’

s second kind, and divisuris longioribus

looks as though he mistranslated e’

oxtaue’

vov , p.a xporepov Sé,unless w e emend Pliny, and read divisis , longioribus . Of

Pliny’

s first kind, the second of Dioscorides ; the latter says

xa vÀia. Àevrr ci, xvoc6877, 5ta rri9ap.a , q'

ÀÀa. poÀéxy e’

p.<fiepfi Kai e’

1r’

3 46


aiz oum sive sedum , si inv olutum panno nigre ignerantis pu lvino subiciatur , e t onothera sive onear , hilaritat em adferens in v ino , amygda lae folio , florerosaceo , fruticosa , longa radice e t , cum siccata est ,

vinum olente . hae c in potu data feras quoque miti

gat . cruditat es quae nausiam faciunt digerit vettonica , eadem pota a cena cencoct ionem facit , in oxyme litis cyathis tribus drachmae pendere e t erapulam

discutit , item agaricum post cibum in aqua calidape tum . paralysin ve tton ica sanare dicitur , itemhiberis ut dictum e st . e adem e t t e rpentibus mem

bris prodest , item argemonia omn ia quae 1secari

perielitentur discutiendo .

LXX. Comitiales sanantur 2 panacis3 quam hera

clion diximus radice 4 pota cum coagulo v ituli mariniita ut sint panacis tre s partes . sanat e t plantago 3

pota , vetton ica in oxyme lite 7 drachma v e l agaricum3

1omnia quae R Gelenii editio Basileensis ; omnia quae

que VdE omnia quaequae Detlef sen omniaque , quae

M ayhoff, vulg.

2 sanantur Vd vulg sanant a liquot codd.

3panacis codd. , vulg. panaces S illig, Detlef sen.

radice VRd S illig radi ces E.

sanat et ego transposui ; ante archez ostis codd.

plantago codd. plantagine M ayhofffoxymelite Gelenius : oxymeliti aut oxymelitis codd.

3agaricum Gelenius : agaricon S itlig : agarico VRd

agarici E r i)n .

Or, because taken in wine it dispels depression . Per

haps Pliny knew that depression w as a common cause of

sleeplessness . In any case it is a strange phrase to be appliedto a cure for insomnia, although there can be no doubt about

the reading, for Theophrastus has (IX 19 5 l ) : 17 8% 7 0 0'I A I C A

ov0 9npa. pt l_fa 80 96 10 0. ev ow qo wpqorepov Ka t w\aparrepov nom 7 0

3 48

BOOK XXVI. LXIX. 1 1 1—LXX. 1 1 3

house le ek , wrapped in black cloth and placed underthe pillow without the knowledge of the patient .Onothera also , that is one ar , is soporific a lthoughe xhilarating in wine ,“ having le ave s l ike those of the

almond tre e , rose - coloured blossom , a bushy shapeand a long root , which when dried sme l ls of wine ,and given in the ir drink soothe s even wild be asts .Indige stion causing nausea is re lieved by be tony ;it also if taken in drink after dinner promote sdige stion ; in dose s of one drachma by we ight inthree cyathi of oxyme l it also remove s the aftere ffects of drink , as doe s agaric too taken in hot waterafter food . Betony is said to cure paralysis and so

doe s hiberis as pre scribed previously .

“ It i s alsogood for numbne ss of the l imbs ; so also is argemon ia , by removing all symptoms indicating thatsurgical treatment (i.e . venese ction) may be nece ssary .

°

LXX. Epilepsy is cured by the root of the panacesI have cal led heraclion “ taken in drink with sea l ’srennet ; thre e quarters of the mixture must be

panaces . Other cure s are plantain in drink , dose sof one drachma of betony er three ebol i of agaric in

760 5 . The language of Dioscorides (IV 117) does not he lpmuch , although he ment ions the soothing eff ect en wildboasts . It might be thought that not all the remedies giv enin this chapter are soporific. Af ter cruditates , indeed, come

some miscellaneous ones , but onothera is surely added (bythe et) to the list of soporifics.

See XXV 88 .

I hav e kept the reading of R (queried as doubtful byMayhoff ) and of Gelenius because it av oids the dislocation ofthought (v iolent ev en for Pliny) inv olv ed in the v ulgate and

accepted by Mayhoif . The use of argemonia is thus confined

to the cure of paralysis, er partial paralysis.

See XXV 3 2 .


ebol is tribus , folia 1quinquefolii ex aqua , arche

z ostis , sed anno pota . sanat e t baccaris radix aridain pulv erem contrita cyathis tribus cum coriandri

uno in aqua cal ida , e t centunculus trita in ace to aut

me lle aut in aqua calida , verbenaca ex vino pota ,

hysopi bacac t ernae contritae in aqua potae diebusXVI, peucedanum cum coagulo v ituli marini aequis

port ionibus pe tum, quinque folii contrita folia ex vinopota diebus XXX, v ettonicae farina 5. X 111 cum acetiscillitici 2 cyatho, me llis Attici uncia , scamonium

ebolis duebus cum castore i drachmis quattuor.

LXXI. Febre s frigidas lev iores facit agaricumpe tum in cal ida aqua , t ertianas sideritis cum oleo,item ladanum quod in segetibus nascitur contusum ,

plantago ex aqua mulsa duabus horis ante acce ssienem pota binis drachmis v e l sucus radicis madefactae v e l tusae , v e l ipsa radix trita in aqua ferrocalfacta . qu idam tem as radice s in tribus cyathis

aquae dedere . e adem in quartanis quaterna fecerunt . buglosse inarescente , si quis medullam ex

1 folia codd. folns M ayhaff .2scillitici V2dEr vulg. scillitis Detlef sen scillini M ayhoff,

qui scillitae coni .

The text here is in a v ery di sturbed state , and the editorsare div ided, Detlefsen adopting sanant followed by nominat iv es and Mayhoff sanantur followed by ablat iv es . The

disturbance may hav e been caused by the accidental emissionof sanat et before plantago and its later re - insert ion tw o linesfurther on . The v arious readings of our MSS . were probablydue to conscious e ff orts to restore the grammar. Both Detlefsen

and Mayhoff adopt oxymelitis ; but be th drachma and obolus

are weights, not measures of capacity, and the sense requires

that the amount of betony and agaric should be giv en , not

the amount of oxymel in which they were taken . ProfessorAndrews w ould keep the order of words in the MSS., com

3 5°


caule eximat dicatque ad quem liberandum febri

id faciat e t alliget e i septem folia ante accessionem,

aiunt febri liberari , - item v e ttonicae drachmam 1 in

aquae mulsae cyathis tribus v e l agaricum , maxime

in iis febribus quae cum horrere v eniant . quinquefolii folia qu idam terna t ertianis dedere , quaterna

quartanis , plura ce teris , al ii omnibus tre s obolos cumpipero ex aqua mulsa . verbenaca quidem e t iumen

torum febribus in vino medetur , sed in tert ianis a

tertio geniculo incisa , quartanis a quarto . bibitur e t

semen hyperici utriusque in quartanis e t horreribus ,

v e t tonicae farina , quae omne s horrore s coerect ,item panaces adeo e xcalofactoria natura ut per

uivem ituris bibere id perunguique eo praecipiant .

et aristolochia perfrictionibus resistit .

LXXII. Phrenet icos somnus sanat , qui continge t2

peucedano ex ace to capiti infuso , anagallidum suco.

e diverso le thargicos excitare labor est hoc praestant

euphorbeum ex aceto naribus tactis , peucedani

suons . contra insanias ve ttonica bibitur. car

bunculos rumpit panaces , sanat v et tonicae farina ex

1 Ante drachmam lacunam ind icat Mayhoff, qui darisupplendum esse puta t.

2continget aliquot codd Detlef sen : contingit E r vulg

Mayhoff.

Mayhoff supposes that there is a lacuna before drachmamexcidit dari vel a liud quid, unde pendeat drachmam.

Possibly drachmam is gov erned by dedere abov e . Both

eadem f acerent and buglosse liberari— especially thelatter— look like later addit ions. Pliny , w ho w as fond of

parentheses, may hav e added one or both of them as an after

thought , ov erlooking the fact that se doing upset the syntaxof the passage .

3 52

BOOK XXVI. LXXI. I I 6—LXXII. 1 18

the pith out of a stem and says that he doe s it to fre ese and so from fever , attaching to the patient sevenle ave s be fore a paroxysm begins , he i s fre ed , it issaid , from the fever . Another remedy is beteny indose s of one drachma in thre e cyathi of hydrome l ,or agaric , e spe cial ly in fevers attended with violentshivers . Some have pre scribed dose s of thre e cinquefoi l le ave s for tertians , of four for quartans , and of

more for the other fevers ; others pre scribe for all

thre e eboli with pepper in hydrome l . Verva in in

wine indeed is a remedy for fever even of boasts of

burden , but for tertians the plant must be cut at the

third j oint , and for quartans at the fourth . For

quartans and feverish shivers is taken in drink these ed of e ither kind of hypericum , powdered be tony ,which ch e cks all shiverings , and panaces also , whichis of such a heating nature that those about totrave l through snow are recommended to take it indrink and to be rubbed with it . Violent chil ls are

also che cked by aristolochia .

LXXII. Phrenitis is cured by sle ep , which wi l l be Phrenit

induced by pouring on the head an infusion of

peucedanum in vinegar , or the juice of e ither ana

gal lis . On the other hand it is difficult to awakensufferers from le thargus this is done by touchingthe nostri ls with euphorbeum in vinegar , or with thejuice of peucedanum . For de lirium be teny istaken in drink . Carbuncle s are made to burst by

panaces , and cured by powdered be tony in water , or

Either the chills of malaria] fev er, or perhaps the shiv erings of a v iolent cold.

Phrenitis , lethargus, and insaniae seem to be used in this

chapter of mild symptoms , and not of the sev ere diseasesoften denoted by the terms .

VOL. VII.


aqua aut brassica cum ture , frequenti potu calidae ,

v e l e carbone in conspectu rest incto favilla digitosublata e t inlita , v e l plantago tusa , t ithymallus

characit es .

1

LXXIII. Hydropicos sanat panaces , plantago in

cibo , cum prius panem siccum comederint sine potu ,

ve ttonica drachmis duabus in duebus cyathi s vin i autmulsi , v e l agaricum v e l semen lenchitidis duabus

lingulis ex aqua pe tum , psyllion ex vino , anagallidum

sucus , ce tyledonis radix e mu lse , ebul i recent is radix

excussa tantum nec colluta , quod due digiti comprobondant , ex vini v e teris caldi hemina , trifolii radix

drachmis duabus in v ino, t ithymallum platyphyllon

cognomine , semen hyperici quod cares appellatur ,

acte , quam e sse ebulum putant quidam, radicecontrita in vini cyathis tribus , s i febris absit , v e l

semine ex vino nigre , item verbenaca fascicule

manus plenae in aqua decocta ad dimidias . prae

cipue tamen chamae actes sucus aptissimus credi tur.

eruptiones pituitae emendant plantago , cyclamini

radix e molle , ebul i folia trita e v ot ere vino— inposita

e tiam be am sanant , id est rubent es papulas— pruri

ginem sucus strychni inlitus .

1characitos codd . , Detlef sen : characias Hard. , M ayhofi

’

.

Cf . 62 , 146.

The carbo acts on the carbunculus by imi tative magic.

Or, the crushed seed in dark (i.e . rod) wine, ” contrita

being understood from contrita abov e.

3 54


LXXIV . Igni sacro medentur aiz oum , folia tr itacicutae , mandragorae radix— secatur 1 in as se s ut

cucumi s , primumque supermustum suspenditur ,mex

in fumo, de in tunditur 2 — e vino aut aceto . prodest

e t v ino myrt e e fev ere , mentae sextans , vivi sulpuris

uncia , ex aceto simul trita , fuligo ex ace to . ign issacri plura sunt genera , inter quae medium hominemambiens qui zoster v ocatur et enecat ,

3 si cinxit .

medetur plantago cum creta Cime l ia e t perist ereos

per se , radix persollatae , aliis quae serpunt coty ledenis radi x cum mu lse , aiz oum , sucus e linoz osti ex

ace to .

LXXV . Radix polypodi inlit a4 luxat is mede tur

doloremque e t tumore s tollunt semen psyllii , foliaplantagini s trita , sale modico addite , v erbasci s emen

ex vi no decoctum tritum , cicuta cum axungi a . folia

1secatur Hard. ex cad. M urb. siccatur codd.

2 tundi tur (aut tuditur ) codd . teritur coni. M ayhafl . Cf .

Theophrasti H .P . IX ix I : 7 77v 8è p'

1'

Cav (roi) pa v8payo'

pov )7rpòs épva in eÀas £v ode

'

ioafv r e Ka i 6f 6 l. 8evdeîa a v .

3et onecat E r

,M ayhofl

'

,vulg. : et necat multi codd

onecat Ianus , Detlef sen .

4radix polypodi inlita cum priore sententia coniungit

Detlefsen.

Or, are gourds .

The emendation teritur is supported by Theophrastus

IX ix l : pi{a v f voBeîoa v scraped but though ho

and Pliny are v ery similar they are also in some respects

strangely unlike . Contrast for instance secatur in asses ut

cucumis etc . with r e'

p.voum. 8è rpaxi0 xov ; «Z a rrep p'

a<f>a vî80 9 «a i

e’

veipavr es zirrèp yÀev'

xovs €Kpép.aaa v e’

rrì rcamréì . Hort transla tes

they cut little balls of it , as of radishes, and making a stringof them hang them up in the smoke ov er must .

”Mayhoff

joins his teritur with e v ino aut aceto. But as teritur has no

MS . authority, and the parenthes is giv es a very Plinian

3 56

BOOK XXVI. LXXIV. 1 2 1—LXXV. 1 2 2

LXXIV . Erysipe las is treated with aiz oum ,Erysip

pounded leave s of hemlock , and root of mandrakeit is cut into slice s as i s cucumber , “ hung first overmust , then in smoke , and finally pounded —taken inwine or vinegar. It is beneficia] too to foment withmyrtle w ine , or to use as an ointment tw o ounce s ofmint with one ounce of native su lphur beaten uptogether in vinegar , or soot mixed with vinegar .

There are several kinds of erysipe las , among them one

called zoster ,“ which goe s round the patient’s wa ist ,

and is fata l if the circle be come s quite comple to.

Remedie s are : plantain w ith Cimolian chalk , peristereos by itse lf and the root of persollata ; as

remedie s for the cre eping forms can be used root ofcotyledon with honey wine , aiz e iim , and the juice of

linoz ostis with vinegar.

LXXV . Root of polypodium made up into linimentis a remedy for dislocations , and the pain and sw e l

ling are taken away by se ed of psyllion , plantainleave s beaten up with a l ittle sal t , ground seed of v er

bascum boi led in wine , and hemlock with axle - gre ase .

character to the sentence , it seems unwise to resort to

emendation . Mayhoff himse lf suggests that the text maybe tunditur, datur, is pounded and administered .

”It is

diffi cult to discriminato between tero, tundo, cantera in thisconnection, except that the first seems to donate less thoroughand v iolent pounding. Assume that the original text hadseca tur af ter radix and siccatur after f umo. Take tunditur

with the following phrase . There is then no diffi culty in

translating.

”A . C. A .

The girdle ,”

probably shingles . The Latin erysipelas isa 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 (5This change does not agree with Dioscorides.


ephemeri tuberibus tumoribusque inlinuntur quaee tiamtum discuti possunt .

LXXVI. Morbum regium in oculis praecipue

mirari est , t enuitatem e tiam 1 densitat emque tun icularum folle subeunt e . H ippocrate s a septimo die

in fehri mortiferum signum e sse dicit : nos scimus

v ixisse aliquos e tiam ab hac desperat ione . fit veroe t citra febre s expugnaturque centaurio ma iore ut

diximus pe to , ve ttonica , agarici ebol is tribus ex viniv eteris cyatho , item v erbenacae folia ebolis tribus exvini cal idi hemina quadriduo. sed ce lerrime quinquefolii suons mede tur tribus cyathis potus cum sale et

mol le .

2cyclamini radix drachmis tribus bibitur in

loco cal ide e t a perfrictionibus tuto— sudore s enimfe l loe s mov e t— fe l ia tussilaginis ex aqua , semen

linoz ostis utriusque inspersum potioni v e l cum

absinthio aut cicere decoctum ,hysopi bacae cum aquapotae , l ichen herba , si , cum sumitur, ce tere c leroabstineatur, polythrix in vino data , struthion in

mulse .

LXXVII. Passim e t in quacumque parte sed

maxime incommoda nascuntur qui furuncul i vocantur,mortiferum aliquando malum consoctis 3 corporibus .

1etiam VRT f , S illig, M ayhaff illam d E vulg. et iam

illam Ianus , Detlef sen .

2cum sale et mello V2Er vulg. ,

- Detlefsen om. V1RTf

Mayhoff."

3consoctis VTfE Detlef sen, M aghaj

'

confoctis vulg.

See o.g. Aphorisms IV 62 .

See XXV 67 .

Mayhe ff w ith many MSS . would omit w ith salt and

honey ,

”

perhaps rightly , as Dioscorides has nothing to corres

pond.

Or, random (A. C. Or, ov er a wide area (ofthe body) .

3 58


remedio sù nt pycnocomi folia trita cum polenta , sinondum caput feeerint . discutiunt e t folia ephedri

inlita .

LXXVIII. Fistulae quoque in omni parte serpunt

medicorum v itio male sectis corporibus . auxilie est

centaurium minus collyriis cum mello decocte additis ,plantaginis suons infusus , quinque folium cum sale e t

me llo, ladanum cum castoreo , cotyledon cum medullacervina cale facta e t inposita ; v erbasci radicismedu l la collyrii tenuitate in fistulam additur v e l

aristolochiae radix v e l suons t ithymalli.

LXXIX . Collect iones inflammat ionesque sanant

argemoniae folia inlita , durit ias et collectiones omne sverbenaca v e l quinque folium de coctum in ace to,

v erbasci folia v e l radix , hysopum e vino inpositum ,

acori radix decocte e ius fov entibus , aiz oum , itemquae contusa sint duritiasque e t in simu 1 corporis 2

il le cebra . omn ia infixa corpori extrahunt fol iatussilaginis , daucum , semen leont0podii tritum in

aqua cum polenta . suppurationibus inponuntur

pycnocomi folia trita cum polenta v e l semon , itemorchis . vitia quae sint in ossibus satyrii radiceinposita e fficacissimo sanari dicuntur, nomae et

1 in simu VdT Detlef sen sinus E r vulg. , M ayhoff .

2corporis] Cf . 141 sinus ul cerum. Urlichs del. corporis

et ulcerum scribit.

Literally creep, from the shape of the fistula . Littréhas se creusent .

”

The meaning of collyriis hero is un certain. It might besalv es or suppositories, but additis, and the common

e ccurronce of rectal fistulas , suggest the latter. See too the

last sentence of this chapter.

Prof . Andrew s suggests supplemented by suppositoriesmade with boiled honey .

”But cf . infistulamadditur below .

3 60

BOOK XXVI. LXXVII. 1 2 5—LXXIX. 1 2 8

pycnocomon with pearl barley are a remedy if theboi l has not yet come to a head . Boi ls are also

dispersed by applications of leave s of ephedron .

LXXVIII. Fistulas also form in any part of the F istulabody through the care le ss use of the surgeon ’s knife .

The le sser centaury , if suppositorie s made from itare inserted with boi led honey ,° is a he lp ; se i splantain juice poured into them , cinque foi l with saltand honey , ladanum w ith be aver- oil , and cotyledonwith de er ’s marrow warmed and applied ; the pith of

verbascum root , cut as slender as a suppository , isinserted into the fistula , or there may be used root of

aristolochia or ju ice of tithymallus .

LXXIX . Gatherings and inflammatiens are cured suppw

by an application of argemonia le ave s , all indurations ZZand gatherings by vervain , or by cinque foil boi led plaintsdown in vinegar , by leave s or root of verbascum , by an

application of hyssop in wine , by fomenting with a

de coction of aceren root , and by aiz oiìm for bruise s ,indurations , and for pitted soros in the fle sh the

remedy is il lecebra . All fore ign bodie s buried in thefle sh may be extracted by le ave s of tussilago , bydaucum, or by seed of leont0podium beaten up in

water with pearl barley . To suppurations are appliedleave s , or seed , of pycnocomon beaten up with pearlbarley , l ikewise orchis . For aff ections of the bone s avery e fficacious cure is said to be an application of

Perhaps in this context hard abscesses . Cf . Celsus V25, 11 (abscessus ) rubet cum ca lore et paulo post etiam cumduritia .

In sinu, in the case of a (sore ) hollow , is the harder,and therefore perhaps the more likely reading. See 141)sinus ulcerum and (XXVII 63 ) explent sinus ulcerum. S inus

is the hollow or cav ity formed by a deep ulcer. Perhaps soros

in a fold (sinus) of the body .

’


collectiones omne s fuco maris , priusquam inarescat .

et alcimae1radix collectiones discut it .

LXXX . Ambusta sanantur plantagine , arctio ita

ut cicatrix fallat . fol ia e ius in aqua de cocta contritainlinuntur , radice s cyclamini cum aiz oo , herba ipsahyperici quod ce rissum appellav imus .

LXXXI. Nervis e t art iculis conv enit plantago tritacum sale , argemonia tusa ex me llo. peucedani succ

perunguntur spas tici , tetanici . nervorum duritiae

aegilops succ , doloribus erigeron ex aceto inlinitur ,epithymum . spast icis e t opisthotonicis perungui

semine hyperici , quod care s v ocatur , itemque bibereprodest . phrynion dicitur e tiam abscisse s sanarenervos , si confestim inponatur tr ita v e l mansa .

spas t icis, tremulis , opisthotoni cis alcimae2

radixbibitur ex aqua mulsa . sic e t rigore s excalfacit .

LXXXII. Sanguini s profluv ia sistit herbae

paeoniao semen rubrum— eadem e t in radice visclymenus vero , sive ore sanguis re iciatur sive naribus,sive alvo fluat sive feminarum utero , item lysimachiapota v e l inlita v e l naribus indita , item plantaginissomen , quinque folium pe tum e t inlitum , cicutae

semen in nare s , si inde fluat , tritum ex aqua inditum,

1alcimae V f S illig : a locao Caesarius : algmao RE

alginae d T.

2alcimae S illig, Detlefsen , M ayhcjf a locao Caesarius

algmao V : alginae d T : algmo ceteri codd.

Soe 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 crushing. Any distinction is sometimes hardto observ e in a translation .

3 62


aiz oum, astragali radix . sistit e t ischaemen e t

achillia .

LXXXIII. Equisaetum hippuris Graecis dieta e t

in pratis vituperata nobis— est autem pilus terraeequ inae saetae similis— home s eurserum extinguit

decocta fictili novo ad tertias quantum v as capiat e t

per triduum homin is pota . unctis esculentis ex antediem unum int erdicitur . Graecorum varia circa hancopinio : al i i pinus foliis similem nigricantem cedemnomine appe l lant , v im e ius admirabilem tradent es ,sangu in is profluv ia v e l tacto tantum ea homine sisti ,ali i hippurin , ali i ephedron , alii anabasim vocant ,

traduntque iuxta arbore s nasci e t scandentem e as

dependere comi s iunceis mu ltis n igris ut ex equorumcauda , geniculat is ramulis , folia habere panca , t enuia ,exigua , semen rotundum , simi le coriandre , radicelignosa , nasci in arbustis maxime . vis e ius spissare

corpora . sucus sanguinem e naribus fluentem in

clusus sistit , item alvum . mede tur dysintericis in

vino dulci potus cyathis tribus , urinam ciet , tussim ,

erth0pnoeam sanat , item rupta e t quae serpunt .

int estinis e t ve sicae folia bibuntur , entoroce len

cohibet . faciunt et aliam hippurim brev ioribus e t

mollioribus comis candidioribusque , perquam utilem

ischiadicis e t vulneribus ex aceto inpositam propter

Soe XVIII 5 259Perhaps thin .

Seo Célsus II 1, 10 , aquila sanum corpus spissat. Cf . p. 40,note . Professor Andrews prefors : to make the flesh moro

compact .

”Dr . Spencer uses brace for the Celsus passage

Perhaps ex aceto goes only with vulneribus . So Littré.In this passage at least a distinction seems to be drawn

between vulnus and plaga , the former boing a cut or thrust , and

the latter a blow that breaks the flesh . But the distinction isnot always strictly observ ed.

3 64

BOOK XXVI. LXXXII. 1 3 1—LXXXIII. 1 3 4

epistaxis , by aiz oum and by root of astragalus .Ischaemon too and achillia che ck ble eding .

LXXXIII. Equisae tum, cal led hippuris by the Equisa

Greeks , and found faul t with by me when I discussedmeadow land —it is in fact hair of the earthre sembling horse hair— reduce s the sple en of runnersif as much as the pot w il l hold is boi led down to one

third in new earthenw are , and taken in drink fer thre edays in close s of one hemina . There must be ab

stinence from fatty foods for at least one dayprevious ly . The Greeks hold various views aboutthis plant ; some under the same name speak of

a dark plant with leave s like those of the pine ,assuring us that , se wonderful is its nature , its mere

touch stanches a patient ’s ble eding ; some cal l ithippuris , others ephedron , others anabasis . The iraccount is that it grow s near tre e s , which it climbs ,and hangs down in many dark , rush - like hairs as

if from a horse ’s tai l ; that its little branche sare jointed , and its leave s few , S lender and smal l ;that the se ed is round , re sembling that of coriander,that its root is ligneous , and that it grows mostlyin plantations . Its property is to brace the body .

Its ju ice , kept in the nostrils , checks haemorrhagethere from , and it also checks loosene ss of the

bowe ls . Taken in a swe e t w ine , in dose s of thre ecyathi , it is good for dysentery , promote s passing of

urine , and euros cough and orthopnoea , rupture sa lso and spreading soros . The leave s are taken in

drink for complaints of the bowe ls and bladder ;the plant itse lf reduces inte stina l hernia . The

Greeks re cognise ye t another hippuris , which has

shorter , softer and paler hairs , making a very use fulapplication in vinegar for sciatica , and also for cuts ,°


sist endum sanguinem . e t nymphaea trita plagis

inponitur . peucedanum cum semin e cupressi bibitur , si sanguis per e s redditus e st fluxitv e ab infernis .

sideritis tantam v im habet ut quamv is recenti

gladiatoris vulneri inligata sanguinem claudat , quodfacit e t ferulae cinis v e l carbo , fungus vero etiameflicacius , qui se cundum radicem e ius nascitur .

LXXXIV . per nare s autem fluenti e t cicutae semen

tritum ex aqua additumque e fficax habetur , itemst ephanome lis ex aqua . v e ttonicae farina e lactecaprino pota sistit ex ubere fluent em , plantagoque

contusa . e iusdem sucus v omentibus sanguinemdatur . ad erraticum autem radix persollatae cum

axungia vetere inlita probatur . LXXXV . rupt is

cenvulsisque , ex a lto deiectis centaurium maius ,gentianae radix trita v e l decocta v e l sucus , ve tton icae t hoc amplius a voeis aut lateris cont ent ionibus

panaces ,1 scordium , aristolochia pota , agaricum item

2

contusis e t ev ersis pe tum duebus ebol is in mulsi

cyathis tribus aut , si febris sit , in aqua mulsa , v er

bascum cuius flos simi lis auro est , acori radix , aiz oumomne , sed maioris suons e fficacissimo, item symphyt i

ius 3 vol radicis de coctum , daucos cruda , erysithales

1sucus , v et toni ca ot hoc cont-ontionibus panaces ,

D iese. coll. M ayhoff : suons v ettonicae , et hoc con

tentionibus , panaces , Detlef sen .

2 item codd . , Detlef sen idem M aghaj .

3symphyt i ius Ianus call. xx 2 3 4 : symphyti ipsius coni.

M ayhcff : symphyt icius d : symphitius V : symphyt i Esymphyt i suons S illig.

By f arina apparent ly is meant dried beteny ground to

powder. It might mean the ground seeds .

3 66


flore luteo , foliis acanthi e vino, item chamaerops e tin sorbitione irio v el plantago omnibus modis ,item .

LXXXVI. Phthiriasi Sul la dictator consumptus est ,nascunturque in sanguine ipso homin is animaliaexesura corpus . re sisti-tur 1 uvae taminiae succ aut

veratri cum e le c perunctis corporibus . taminia

quidem in aceto decocta e tiam ve ste s eo taedio

liberat .

LXXXVII. Ulcera multorum sunt generum ac

multis modis curantur . panacis omnium generum

radix ex vino calide inlinitur manantibus . siccat

privatim quam chironiam diximus , cum molle tritatubera aperit ulceribusque quae serpunt deploratis

auxilie est , cum aeris flore vine temperata omn ibusmodis , v e l semine v e l flore v e l radice . eadem cum

polenta v e tustis volneribus prodest ; heraclion quo

que siderion , apol linaris , psyllium , tragacantha .

scordotis cum me llo purgat . farina e ius carn isexcre scente s per se inspersa consumi t . polemonia

ulcera quae cacoe the v ocant sanat ; centauriummaius inspersum v e l inlitum , item minoris coma

decocta v e l trita votera quoque u lcera purgat et

persanat . follicu li clymeni recentibus plagis in

ponuntur . inlinitur autem gentiana ulceribus quaeserpunt radice tu sa v e l decocta in aqua ad molliscrassitudinem v e l succ , v olneribus ex ea factum

1 Post item lacunam indicai S itlig, quem sequitur M ayhajfmodis , item phthiriasi qua Sulla dictator consumptus est

nascunturque corpus— resistitur Detlef sen.

The text of Mayhoff (which I follow) is here smoother than

that of Detlefsen , but leav es ono difficul ty— the que after

nascuntur. Ono would rather expe ct quo morbo nascuntur or

the like . Perhaps there is another lacuna after consumptus est.

3 68

BOOK XXVI. LXXXV. 1 3 7—LXXXVII. 140

those of the acanthus— taken in w ine , chamaeropsa lso and irio in soup , or any preparation of plantain ,

likewise .

LXXXVI. Sulla the dictator perished from Phthir

phthiriasis in the very blood of the patient creature scome to life that will eat up his fle sh .

“ The dise ase iscombated by rubbing the whole body with j uice of

the taminian grape , or w ith he l lebore ju ice and oil .

Taminian grape s indeed boi led down in vinegarremove this nuisance even from garments .

LXXXVII. Ulcers are of many kinds , and the Ulcers.me thods of treatment are many . To running soros isapplied in warmed w ine the root of any kind of

panaces . A specific for drying them is the herb Iav o cal led “ chironia ; beaten up with honey it

opens hard swe l lings , and a ffords re lie f to de speratecase s of spreading ulcers it is diluted with wine and

combined with flower of copper , and seed , flower or

root may be used indiscriminate ly . This plant withpearl barley is also good for old wounds , se too isheraclion siderion , apollinaris , psyllium and tragacantha . Scorde tis w i th honey cleanse s them ; itspowder consume s morbid excrescence s of fle sh , if

sprinkled en them by itse lf . Polemonia heals ulcersthat are cal led malignant ; the greater centaury,whether sprinkled or applied as l in iment , the tuft °also of the le sser centaury , boiled down or beaten up,

cleanses and thoroughly heals even chronic ulcers .The se ed pods of clymenus are applied to fre shwounds . From gentian too is made a l in iment ferspreading ulcers ; the pounded root is boi led downin water to the consistency of honey or the ju icemay be used ; from gentian is made a lycium

Seo XXV 3 2 . Or, top.


lycium . lysimachia recent ibus plagis medetur , plantago omnium generum ulceribus , peculiariter seuume t infant ium . ign i eme llita me lior e t cum ceratocrassa ulcerum labra purgat , nomas sistit . tritamsuis foliis integere oport et . suppurat iones , colleetiene s , sinus ulcerum che lidon ia quoque siccantur ,

v e lnera adeo ut etiam pro spodio utantur, eadem iam

de speratis cum axungia inponi tur . dictamnum potasagittas pe llit e t alia te la extrahit inlita— bibitur ex

aquae cyatho foliorum obolo — proxM e pseudodictamnum ; utraquo e t suppurat iones discutit .

aristolochia quoque putria u lcera exest , sordida

purgat cum mello v ermesque extrahit , item clavos inu lcere natos e t infixa corpori omni a , praecipue sagittas e t ossa fracta cum re sina , cava vero u lcera explet

per se e t cum iride , recent ia v e lnera ex aceto ,

vetera u lcera verbenaca , quinque folium cum sale e t

mello. radices persollatae v olneribus ferro inlatis

recentibus inponuntur , folia v eteribus , cum axungia

utrumque , e t suo fol io operitur , damasonium 1ut in

struma , folia v erbasci ex aceto aut vino . peristereos

1v otoribus ; cum axungia utrimquo et suo folio oporitur

damasonium M aghaj .

For lycium seo XXIV 124 fe ll .

The diff erence between plaga (77Ànyvj) and volnus (rpa zîpa )seems here to be nil. Littré has plaie for both .

Mayhofl"s emendation here seems to giv e the senso

damasonium with axlo-

grease on both sides is cov ered ov er

wi th its ow n leav es .

”It is difficul t to stato with confidence

what is, or is not , possible in a passage se amorphous in style as

the present , but there can hardly bo any objection to utrumquein the sense of either application ,

”especially w hen the words

referred to (radices , falia) are of diff erent genders, and each of

3 7°


ad omn ia genera v e l callosorum putrescentiumque

ulcerum facit . manantia nymphae ae heracliae radixsanat , item cyclamini radix v e l per se v e l ex ace to v e l

cum molle . eadem e t contra steatomata e fficax ,

sicut ad u lcera manant ia hysopum , item peucedanum ,

e t ad recent ia volnera vis tanta e st ut squamam

ossibus extrahat . praestant hoc e t anagallides

eohibentque quas v ocant nomas e t rheumat ismos ,

utiles et recentibus plagis , sed praecipue senum cor

pori . cum cerato apost emata e t ulcera tae tra fe liamandragorae recent ia , radix volnera cum mello aut

e lec ,cicuta cum siligine mixta mere , aiz oum herpe

tas quoque ac nomas ac putrescentia , sicut erigeronverminosa , recentia autem v olnera as tragali radix e t

vetera u lcera quae purgat hypocisthis utraquo.

leont0podii semen tritum in aqua e t cum polentainlitum spicula sagittarum extrahit , item pycnocomi

semen . t ithymallus characit es succ gangraenas ,

phagedaenas , putria v e l decocte ramorum cum

polenta e t e lec , orchis radices hoc amplius et cacoe thecummolle , siccae e t recente s per se vulnera , onotherae fferant ia se se u lcera sanat . Scythae vulnera 1

Scythica curant . ad carcinomata argemonia ex

me llo e fficacissima est . ulceribus praesanatis asphede l i radix de cocta ut diximus , trita cum polenta ot

1vuln era codd . : ul cera M ayhaff ex Theaphrasto (H .P.

IX 13 ,

From herpetas to putrescentia may be considered a paren

thesis — herpes too, nomae and festering soros In

most of this chapter howev er the sentences are almost formless,and resist ofl’

orts to make them conf orm to the normal.Mayhoff may be right in reading ulcera fromTheophrastus.

As howev er the MSS . hav e vulnera , Pliny, rather loose in hisrenderings of his Greek authorities, probably wrote it .

3 72

BOOK XXVI. LXXXVII. 144—14 7

t ereos is good for all kinds of ulcers , even when hardand fe ste ring . Running ulcers are cured by root of

nymphaea heraclia , also by the root of cyclamen , byitse lf , in vinegar , or with honey . This last is also exce llent for fatty tumours , as i s hyssop for runn ing ulcers ,and peucedanum also , which when used for fre shwounds is so powerful as to exfoliate bones . The tw o

kinds of anagal lis also have this property , and che ckfluxes and the soros cal led nomae , be ing use ful for fre shwounds , but e specially for those on the fle sh of the

aged . Absce sses and foul ulcers (may be treatedwith) fresh leaves of mandrake and w ax—salve ,wounds with its root and honey e r oil , or withhemlock added to wheat and meat w ine . For

herpes also , nomae and fe stering u lcers ,“ aiz oiimmay be used , as may erigeron for verminous soros , forfre sh wounds root of astragalus , and for chronic u lcerse ither kind of hypocisthis , which cleanse s them .

The se ed of leontopodium , beaten up in water and

applied with pearl barley , e xtracts the he ads of

arrows , as doe s also the se ed of pycnocomon . The

juice of tithymallus characites he al s gangrene s ,phagedaeni c soros and purulent ulcers , as doe s a

decoction of the branche s with pe arl barley and oil ;the roots of orchis moreover with honey curo evenmalignant soros , healing wounds without furtheraddition , and whe ther dry or freshly gathered .

Onothera heals ulcers that are be coming virulent .The Scythians treat wounds “ with scythice . For

carcinoma argemonia applied with honey is veryefficacious. For ulcers premature ly healed root of

asphode l , boi led dow n as I have said ,° be aten upwithpearl barley and applied , is good ; but apollinaris is

Seo XXII 70 .

3 73


inlita , quibuscumque vero apol linaris , astragal i radixin pulv erem trita umidis ulceribus prodest , itemcal lithrix decocta in aqua , privatim vero his quaecalciamento facta sint verbenaca , nec non et lysimachia contrita ac nymphaea arida infriata . polythrix inv e teratis isdem ut ilior est .

LXXXVIII. Polyenemon cunilae bubulae simi lisest , semine pulci, surculosa , multis geniculis , corymboodorate ,1 acri e t du lci odore , ferro factis conman

ducata inponitur , qu into die solv itur . symphyton ad

cicatricem ce lerrime perducit , item sideritis . hae cinponi tur ex mello. v erbasci semine ac foliis ex

vino decoctis ac tritis omn ia infixa corpori e xtrahuntur , item mandragorae foliis cum polenta ,

cyclamini radicibus cum mello. trixaginis folia in

e lec contrita his maxirne adhibentur ulceribus quaeserpunt , e t alga in 2 mello trita , ve tton ica ad car

cinomata e t malandrias vetore s addite sale .

LXXXIX . Verrucas te l lit argemonia ex ace tov e l batrachii radix , quae e t ungue s scabros aufert ,

linoz ostidis utriusque folia v el suons inlitus. t ithymal l i omne s genera v errucaium omnia , item ptery

gia , varos tollunt . cicatrice s eum e legantia ad

colorem reducit ladanum . artemisiam e t e le lis

phaeum alligatas qui habeat viator negatur lassitu

dinem sentire .

1odorato Gelenius , Detlef sen : odorata codd. : in uncis

M ayhoff .

2alga in vulg. Detlef sen : aleima in M ayhoff algain in

VE .

For ma landria see list of diseases ; and XXIV 44.


XC . Muliebribus morbis mede tur maxime in

universum paeoniao herbae semen n igrum ex aquamulsa . eadem e t in radice vis . menses ciet panacissemen cum absinthio,mense s ot sudore s scordotis potue t inlitu . ve tton ica drachma in vini cyathis tribusbibitur contra omnia v olvarum vitia aut quae a partu

fiunt . menses n imios sistit achillia inposita1

e t

decoctum e ius insidentibus. mammis inponitur hyosoyami semen ex vine— locis radix in cataplasmate

e t 2 che lidonia . secundas morante s v e l partusemortuos radice s panacis adpositae extrahunt . ipsum panaces e vino pe tum volvas purgat adpositum

que cum molle . polemonia pota ex vino secundas

pellit , nidore corrigit volvas . centauri minoris sucuspotu fe tuque menses ciet , item maioris radix in v e l

v ae doloribus isdem medis prodest , derasa vero e t

adposita extrahit partus emortuos . plantago ad

ponitur in lana in dolore volvae , in strangulatu bibitur.

sed praecipua dictamne vis est ; mense s ciet , partusemortuos v e l traverse s oicit— bibitur ex aqua foliorumobolo— adeo ad haec e fficax ut ne in cubiculumquidem praegnantium inferatur. nec potu tantumsed et inlitu e t suflitu vale t . proxirne pseudodic

1 inposita E Detlef sen adposita V Ill ayhcff .2et Detlef sen mammis ot M ayhofl

’

et mammis ot codd .

The word et here may mean either and or or.

The parenthesis remov es the diffi cul ty of this sentence .

Littré has bonne pour l’

hystérie ,”but I find it hard to

distinguish the phrase from vu lvas conversas corrigit in XXIV22 .

The Latin Thesaurus giv es many examples of adpcnere in

Pliny used of uterino applications , but it is hard to see how it

dif fers from subdere and subiectus in 5 154 . The Greek wordscorresponding are 7rpcicflerov and wpooriflnm.

BOOK XXVI. XC. 1 51—153

XC . For disease s of women a very good genera l Diseasremedy is the black se ed , taken in hydrome l , of the

w omen

plant paeonia ; its root also has the same property .

An emm enagogue is seed of panaces with wormwood ,and a sudorific emmenagogue is scordot is , takeninternal ly or applied local ly . Betony in dose s of onedrachma to three cyathi of wine i s taken for all

uterine affections , and for those that re sult fromchild - birth . Exce ssive menstruation is checked byan application of achillia or a sitz bath in a decoctionof it . To the breasts is applied henbane seed in wine— but to the uterus henbane root in a plaster — and

also che lidon ia . A pe ssary of panaces roots bringsaway re tarded after- birth or the de ad foetus . The

uterus is purged by panaces , taken by itse lf in wine ,and by a pe ssary of it with honey . Polemonia takenin wine force s out the after—birth , and the fume s of itwhen burnt correct the uterus . Juice of the le ssercentaury taken in drink e r used as a fomentation is anemmenagogue , and the root of the greater centaury ,used in the same ways , is good for uterine pains ,while if it is scraped and applied as a pe ssary itbrings away a dead foe tus . P lantain is applied as a

pessary in wool for pain in the uterus for hystericalsuffocation it is taken in drink . But it is dittany thatis of the greate st e fficacy ; it is an emmenagogue , andforce s out the foetus when dead or lying transverse ly— an obolus of the leave s is taken in water— be ing so

e fficacious in the se re spects that it is not even introduced into the bedroom of pregnant women . Not

only w hen 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 boi led down with meat wine , the

3 77


tamnum , sed mense s ciet cum mero decoctum donaru

pendere . plurimi s tamen modis aristolochia prodest ,nam e t menses e t se cundas ciet e t emortuos partusextrahit , murra e t pipero additis pe ta v el subdita .

volvas quoque procident es inhibet fotu v e l suflitu v e l

subiectu , maxmo tenuis . strangulatum ab hismensumque difficultatem agaricum ebol is tribus invini v eteris cyatho pe tum emendat , perist ereos ad

posita in adipe suillo recenti , antirrhinon cum rosaceoet mello. item adposita nymphaeae Thessalae radixdolori medetur , in vino nigre pota profluv ia inhibet ;e diverse cie t cyclamini radix pota e t adposita , e t

ve sicae insidentium decocte medetur . secundas potacissanthemos pe llit , volvam sanat . e xiphio radixsuperior mense s cie t drachma ex aceto pota . peuce

danum strangulatus volvae nidore ustum recreat ,

menses albos 1 praecipue psyllion drachm a in cyathi s

tribus aquae , semen mandragorae pe tum volvam

purgat , menses ciet sucus adpositus e t emortuos par

tus. nimia rursus profluv ia sistit semen cum vivosulphure , contra e a ciet batrachium potu v e l cibo,

ardens alias , ut diximus, cruda , sed coota comm en

datur salo et e lec e t cumino . daucum e t menses e tsecundas potu '

facillime pellit , ladanum suflitu

1albos T Detlef sen, M ayhojf albo Vd alv os E alv osquo

vulg.

Again , et may mean here and.

Seo XXV 173 .


eorrigit volvas , dolori carum exulceratisque inponi

tur . emortua scamonium pe llit pe tum v e l adposi

tum . mense s cie t hypericum utrumque adpositum ,

ante a lia vere , ut Hippe crat i vide tur , erethmes e

vino semine v e l radicis cortice ,

1 trahit e t secundas ,

succurrit e t strangulationibus ex aqua pota , itemradix e geran io peculiarit er secundis inflationibusque

v olvarum conveniens . purgat hippuris pota e t ad

posita volvas , polygonus pota .

2 menses ciet et

alcimae radix , fol ia plantaginis pe llunt , item agaricum ex aqua mulsa . artemisia volvae medetur

trita , ex e lec irino aut cum fico aut eum murra ad

posita . e iusdem radix pota in tantum purgat ut

partus enectos extrahat . mense s et secundas cie t

ramorum de coctum insidentibus , item fol ia potadrachma . ad e adem omnia prosunt v e l inposita

ventri ime cum farina hordeacia . aceren quoqueuti le est interioribus feminarum morbis et cony zautraquo e t ere thme s . e t anthyllides

3 duao vulv is

utilissimae torminibusque ot secundarum morae in

vino potae . cal lithrix fotu locis medetur , albuginesin capite te l lit , capillos inficit e lec tri ta . geranien in

1radicis cortice vet. Dal. , M ayhoff radice , cortice aliquot

codd . , Detlef sen radice cort iois T E f .2pota] ita dist. M aghaj

'

ex Dioscoride3anthyllides M ayhoff , Hermolaum Barbarum secutus

canthyllidos V, Detlef sen.

Cf . Dioscorides I 97 è 4 (of ladanum) : 15770 6vp 167 a 1. Bè «a i

wpòg 8ev7 épw v e’

xBoÀcîs . This sentence (not referred to byMayhofl ) has npòs: 8€ v re

'

pw v G’

KBOÀdS‘ for Pliny’

s corrigit volvas ,a warning to editors w ho try to bring the tw o w riters into tooclose agreement .

Littré has guérit l’

hystérie . Seo howev er the noto on

5 152 of this book .

Soe Littré ’s index (Vol. X) sub voce.

BOOK XXVI. xc . 1 57—1 60

with ladanum corrects the uterus ,“ and the plant isapplied local ly for pain there and ulceration . Scammony taken in drink or used as a pe ssary force s outa dead foe tus . Either kind of hypericum , used as a

pe ssary , acts as an emmenagogue ; pre—eminently se ,

however , as H ippocrate s be lieve s , doe s ere thme s ,° the

se ed , or the skin of the root , be ing taken in w ine ; italso brings away the after - birth , and taken in water ishe lpful in hysterical suffocations , as is the root of

geranien , which is specific for the after—birth and for

inflation of the uterus . Hippuris , taken in drink andapplied as a pe ssary , purge s the uterus , as does

polygonus taken in drink . The root of aleima too

is an emmenagogue , leave s of plantain a violentone , as is also agaric in hydrome l . Artemisiabeaten up is good for the uterus , applied as a

pe ssary in iris oil or with fig or with myrrh .

° Its

root taken in drink purge s the uterus se Violentlythat it expe ls a dead foe tus . A sitz bath of a

decoction of the branche s is an emmenagogue , and

also hastens the after—birth ; se too acts a drachma

of the leav es taken in drink . For all the same

purpose s the leave s are a lso good when mere lyapplied with barley meal to the base of the abdomen .

Aceren too is beneficial for internal disease s of women ,

and so is e ither kind of conyza , and also ere thme s .

The tw o kinds of anthyl lis , taken in wine , are veryuse ful for uterine trouble s , for griping pains there ,and for de lay of the after - birth . Ca ll ithrix used forfomentations is heal ing to the uterus , remove s al

bugo on the head, and beaten up in oil f stains the

Perhaps or.

Note both ex and cum in a single phrase .

Here alec seems equivalent to the usual ex alec.

3 8 1


vino albo pe tum , hypocisthi s in rubro profluv ium

sistunt . hysopum suff ecationes laxat . radix v er

benacae pota ex aqua ad omn ia in partu aut ex partu

mala praestantissima est . peucedano quidamcent in vi no n igre semen cupressi contritum . nam

semen psyllii de ferv e factum in aqua , cum intepui t ,

epiphoras omne s uteri louit . symphyton tritum

in vino nigre ev ocat menses . partus acce lerat

scordot is pota drachma suoi in aquae mulsae cyathis

1111 . dictamni folia praeclaro dantur ex aqua . con

stat un ius eboli pendere , v e l si mortui sint in uteroinfantes , protinus reddi sine v exatione puerperae .

simi liter prodest pseudodictamnum , sed tardius ,

cyclaminos adalligata , cissanthemos pata , itemv e ttoni cae farina ex aqua mulsa .

XCI. Arsenegonon et the lygenen herbae sunthabent es uvas floribus e leae simi le s , pallidiores

1

tamen , semen album papav eris modo. thelygoni

potu feminam concipi narrant ; arsenogonon ab ea

semine e leae , nec al io distat ; huins potu mares

generari , si credimus . a lii utramque ocimo similem

tradunt , arsenogoni autem semen gominum e sset estibus simile .

XCII. M ammarum v itiis aiz oum quod digitillumappe llavimus unico medetur . erigeron ex passomammas uberiores facit , sencum cum farro coctum ,

2

1pallidioros vulg. pallidioris Detlef sen, M ayhofl

'

.

2sencum cum farro coctum ego souci cum farro cocti ius

M aghaj senchum in farro coctum Detlef sen et codd.

Soe XXV 160.


quae vero maste s vocatur inlita . pilos mammarum

partu nascente s ,1 te stas in facie aliaque cutis vitiaemendat gentiana , nymphae a heraclia inlita , oyolamini radix maculas omnes . caccaliae grana mixtacerae liquidae extendunt cutem in facio erugantque ,vitia omnia aceri radix emendat .

XCIII. Capillum lycium succ2 flav um facit ,

denigrat hypericum quod e t ce rissum v ocatur , itemophrys herba denticulate oleri similis , foliis duebus .

nigrit iam dat e t polemonia in e lec decocta . psilot

rum nos quidem in muliebribus medicamentis tractamus , verum iam et viris est in usu . e fficacissimum

autem habetur archez ostis , item t ithymalli, succ v e l

in solo cum e lec inlito crebro v e l ovolsis pilis .

quadripedum scabiem sanat hysopum ex e lec , suumangi nas peculiarit er sideritis . verum e t reliqua

genera herbarum reddamus.

1nascentes vet. Dal . , M ayhofl

“nascentium codd .

2 lycium succ e Dioscoride ja v9i{a 8è «a i 7pt'

xa î ,I 100 è 3 ] M ayhcff lysimaco VE lysimachia vulg.

3 84

BOOK XXVI. xcu . 1 63—XCIII. 1 64

plant cal led mastos, however, is applied as liniment .The hairy aff ection appearing on the breasts at

child - birth , brick - red spots on the face , and otherskin trouble s , 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 with me lted w ax , smooth the face , takingaway the wrinkle s , and all facial trouble s are removedby root of acoron .

XCIII. Lycium “ juice dye s the hair fiaxen ; Dye_s ahypericum, a lso cal led corissum, dye s it black , as does

depth”

ophrys , a plant like indented cabbage , but with onlytw o leave s . Polemonia , toc , boiled down in oil ,imparts a black colour. Depilatories I myse lfinde ed regard as a woman

’s cosmetic , but now todaymen also use them. But very e fficacious is he ld to bearche z ost is , as a lso the tithymalli, the juice be ingapplied frequently with oil e ither in the sun or whenthe hairs have been pul led out . Hyssop in oil

heals the itch in quadrupeds , and sideritis is spe cificfor the quinsy in sw ine . But Imust go on to describethe remaining kinds of plants .

See XXIV 124 if .

VOL. VII.

LIBER XXVII

I. CRESCIT profecto apud me certe tractatu ipso

admirat io antiquitatis , quant ue maior copia her

barum dicenda restat , tanto magis adorare priscorum

in inv eniendo curam ,in tradendo benignì tat em subit .

ne c dubie superata hoc modo posse t videri e tiam

rerum naturae ipsius munificent ia , si human i operis

e sse t inventio. nunc vero deorum fu isse eam apparet

aut certe div inam, e tiam cum homo inv enire t , ean

demque omn ium parent em e t genuisse haec e t

ostendisse , nu l lo vitae miraculo maiore si verum

fat eri v olumus . Scythicam herbam a M aeotis

paludibus , e t euphorbeam e monte Atlante ultraque

Herculis columnas ex ipso rerum naturae de fectu ,

parte alia britannicam ex oce ani insulis e xtra terras

positis , itemque ae thiopidem ab exusto sideribus

axe , a lias praeterea aliunde ultro citroque humanae

saluti in toto orbe portari , immensa Romanae pacis

maie state non homine s modo diversis inter se terris

gentibusque verum e tiam monte s e t excedent ia in

Scythicam herbam portari seems to be exclamatory .

BO OK XXVII

I. THE mere treatment of this subj ect undoubtedlyincrease s the admiration that I at least fe e l for themen of old ; the greater the number of plants waitingto be de scribed , the more one is led to revere the

care ful re search of the ancients and the ir kindne ss inpassing on the results . Without a doubt even the

bounteousne ss of Nature herse lf might se em to havebeen surpassed by them in this w ay if the discov eries had be en the re sult of human endeavour.

But as it is , it is clear that this bounteousne s shas be en the work of the gods , or at least due to

the ir inspiration , even when the actual discovererw as a man , and that the same Mother of all thingsboth produced the herbs and made them knownto us. This is the greate st miracle of l ife , if w e

care to admit the truth . To think that “ the Scythianplant , for example , is brought from the - marshe s of

Maeotis , euphorbea from Mount Atlas and frombeyond the pil lars of Hercule s , where the works of

Nature actual ly begin to fai l ; on another sidebritann ica , from islands in the ocean lying beyond themainland , ae thiopis too from the clime scorched bythe conste llations of heaven , and other plants more

over passing hither and thither from all quartersthroughout the whole world for the we lfare of man

kind , all ow ing to the boundle ss grandeur of the

Roman Peace , which displays in turn not men onlywith the ir diff erent lands and tribes , but a lso moun

The baz

of Nan


nubes inga partusque eorum e t herbas quoque inv icem ostentante . a eternum quaeso, deorum sitmunus istud ! adeo Romanos ve lut alteram lucemdedisse rebus humanis v identur.

4 II. Sed antiquorum curam diligent iamque qu is

possit satis v enerari ? constat omnium v enenorumocissimum e sse acon itum e t tactis quoque genitalibusfeminini sexus animalium eodem die inferre mort em.

hoc fuit venenum quo int eremptas dormient es a

Calpurn io Be stia uxores M . Ca elius 1 accusator obiecit .

hinc illa atrox perorat ic e ius in digitum . ortumfabulae narrav ere e spumì s Cerberi can is extrahent eab inferis Hercule ideoque apud Heracleam Ponti

5 Cam , ubi monstratur is ad inferos aditus , gigni. hoc

quoque tamen in usus humanae salutis verterescorpionum ict ibus adv ersari experiendo datum in

vino calido . ea est natura ut hominem occidat nisiinv eneri t quod in homine perimat . cum eo soloConluctatur , i

'

v e luti 2 praesent ius3 inv ento . î sola haec

pugna est , cum venenum in visceribus reperit ,4

1 Caelìus Ruhnken ad Vell . Pat. II 68, Mayhojff Caecilius

codd . , Detlef sen .

2v eluti] velum V’

.

prae sentius V2vulg. , Detlef sen : parte intus mul ti codd

pari intus Hermolaus Barbaras .

sola reperit in uncis lll ù'

ller, M ayhoff .

Detlefsen and Mayhcif agree in reading eum eo solo con

lucta tur, velut1?praesentius invento. Mayhofi‘

adds invento

quam inventam. Afte r J. Muller, Mayhc ff brackets solareperii, which certam looks like a margin al explanation of the

preceding sentence added to the text by a subsequent scribe .

Sola haec pugna est corresponds to cum eo solo conlucta tur,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 intus for

the second . The whole would be veneno prae'

senti intus in

vento, the quick- acting poison found inside .

”In XVI 51

3 9°


mirumque , exitialia per se ambo cum sint , duo venema6 in homine conmoriuntur ut homo supersit . immo

vero etiam ferarum remedia antiqui prodideruntdemonstrando quomodo venenata quoque ipsa sanarentur . torpescunt scorpione s aconiti tactu stupent

que pallent es e t vinci se confitentur . auxiliatur his

he lleborum album tactu re solvente , ceditque aconi

tum ducbus ma l is , suo e t omnium. quae si quisul la forte

‘

ab homine excogitari pctuisse credit ,7 ingrate deorum munera int e llegit . tangunt carnesacon ito ne cantqu e gustatu earum pantheras , nisihoc fiere t , reple turas i l los situs . ob id quidampardalianche s appellav ere . at i l las statim liberari

morte excrementorum hominis gustu demonstratum .

quod certe casu repertum quis dubite t e t quotiensfiat e tiam nunc ut novum nasci , quon iam feris ratio e t

8 usus inter se tradì non possit ? hic ergo casus ,hic est i l le qui plurima in vita invenit deus , hoc habe tnomen per quem inte llegitur eadem e t parens rerumomnium e t magistra ,

lutraque coniectura pari , sive

ista cotidie feras invenire sive semper scire iudicemus .

pudendumque rursus omn ia animalia quae sint salu9 taria ipsis nosse prae ter hominem. sed maiore s

1 hoc habet magistra in parenthesi Mayhoff.

Perhaps poisoned.

After comes Mayhoff would supply Hyrcam'

, and the

name of a people seems omitted (because of illos situa at the

end of the sentence ).

3 92

BOOK XXVII. 11 . 5—9

Although by themse lve s both are deadly , ye t the tw opoisons in a human be ing perish together so that thehuman survive s . Moreover even remedie s used by w ildbeasts have been handed down by the ancients , w hohave shown how venomous creature s also by themse lve s obtain healing . Scorpions , touched by acon ite ,become numbed , and are pale and stupefied , acknowledging the ir de feat . They find a he lp in whitehe llebore , its touch dispe l ling the torpor ; the aconiteyie lds to tw o evil foe s , one peculiar to itse lf and one

common to all creatures . If anyone be lieve s thatthe se discoverie s could , by any chance , have beenmade by a man , he shows himse lf ungrate fulfor the gods ’ gifts . They touch fle sh with aconite ,and kil l panthers by a mere taste of it , otherwisepanthers would overrun the regions where they are

found . For this re ason some have cal led aconitepardalianche s , that is panther - strangler . But it hasbeen proved that pan thers are at once saved fromthis death by tasting human excrement ; sure lynobody doubts that this remedy has been found byChance , and that cn every occasion it is even today a

new find , since wild animal s have ne ither re ason nor

experience for re sults to be passed from one to

another. This Chance there fore , this is that greatde ity w ho has made most of the discoverie s thatenrich our life , this is the name of him by whom ismeant she w ho is at once the Mother and the

M istre ss of all creation . Either guess is equal lylike ly , whether w e judge that wild animals makethese discoveries every day cr that they posse ss a

never—fai ling instinct . Again it is shame ful that all

animals except man know what is health - giving forthemse lve s . Our ancestors however advertised the

3 93


oculorum quoque medicament is aconitum misceri

saluberrime promulgav ere aperta profe ssione malumquidem nullum 1

e sse sine aliquo bono . fas ergonobis erit qui nul la diximus venema monstrare qualesit "

aconitum , v e l deprehendendi gratia . folia h abe tcyclamin i aut cucumeris non plura quattuor , ab

radice , lenit er hirsuta , radicem modicam cammaro

similem marino, quare qu idam cammaron appe l lavere , al ii the lyphonon , ex qua diximus causa . cauda 2

radicis incurv atur paulum scorpionum modo , quare e t

scorpion aliqui v ocav ere . nec de fuere quimyoctonon

appe llare mallent , quoniam procul e t e longinquoodore mure s necat . nascitur in nudis cautibus quasacomas nominant , e t ideo aconitum aliqui dixere ,

nul lo iuxta ne pu lvere quidem nutriente . hancaliqui rationem nomini s adtulere , al ii , quoniam vise adem e sse t in morte quae cotibus in ferri aciedet erenda , statimque admota v e locitas sent iretur .

III. Ae thiopis fol ia habet phlcmo similia , magnaac multa et hirsuta ab radice , caulem quadriangulum ,

—1 malum quidem null-um vulg. , Detlef sen : ne malum

q uidem ullum M ayhoff .

2cauda V, M ayhofi : arida E : cauda arida Detlef sen

radix sine cauda radi cis d, vulg. , fortasse reste .

There is perhaps little to choose between the tw o readings .

I\Iayhofi"s ne is quite as likely as the v ulgate text .

I.e . mouse—kil ler.

”

Le . «6n dust and a priv ativ e .

A whetstone is in Greek dxév'r) .It is interesting to compare Pliny

’

s accoun t of aconi te withDioscorides IV 76 (Wellmann ). In the latter is giv en the efi

‘

ect

of aconite on scorpions with its antidote in the touch of whi tehellebore . The preceding sentence is ;ic

’

Co. o'

pofa. axopm'

ov

oòptî , m iÀfiovaa. ciÀafiaarpoec5& s. For this last Pliny has only

3 94


scabrum, similem arctic , mu ltis concavum alis ,semen ervo s imi le , candidum , geminum , radice snumerosas , longas , plenas , mol le s , glutinosas gustu .

siccae nigrescunt indurescuntque ut cornua v ideri

possint . praeter A e thiopiam nascuntur e t in Ida

monte Troadis e t in M e ssenia . colliguntur autumno,

siccantur in sole al iquot diebus n e situm sentiant .

medentur volvis potae in vino a lbo, ischiadicis ,

pleurit icis , faucibus scabris decoctae potn i dantur , sedquae ex Aethiopia venit eximi e atque i l lico prodest .

IV. Ageraton ferulacea est , duorum palmorumaltitudine , origano s imi lis , flore bu llis aureis . huius

ustae ni dor urinam ciet volv asque purgat , tanto magisinsidentibus . causa nominis [non haec , sed]

1 quoniamdiut issime non marcescit .

V . A lce se i l lac similitudinem habe t , maior e t

pinguioribus foliis , ex obliquo striata— caul is e iustener est , rubens medius , non dissimi lis antherici ,radice una ceu palo in terram demissa 2 —gravisodore , gustu amara . laudat issima ex India adfertur,sed nascitur et in Asia , non tamen e a utuntur nisi

1non haec sed in uncis ponunt Pintianus, S illig, M ayhojf .

2 Hic ipsa add . M ayhofi .

With numerous axillary concav ities (Bostock and

Riley), ofirant de nombreux goussets (Littré) . Dioscorides has : xavÀòv r erpciyw vov maxdx\as dw e

'

w a. w oÀÀa'

S

(IV. 5;5ZCa s wo s, pa xpois, w axa

'

as, yeuoy.évqo KOA/\di8é i î

(Dioscorides) .Strictly the subject of na scuntur is radices .

S cabris is rather diffi cult . Bostock and Riley translateeruptions of the throat , and Littré has (v aguely )

“

les

maux de gorge . Perhaps it is a loose term, like our sore

throat .

”

3 96

BOOK XXVII. 111. rr—v . 14

and hollowed by many axils .

“ The seed is l ike that ofvetch , white and geminate ; the roots are numerous ,long , fleshy , soft , and gluey to the taste .

b Whendry the se become black and hard , so that they mightbe taken for horns . This plant " grows not on ly inAethiopia , but also on Mount Ida in the Troad and

in M e ssenia . The roots are gathered in autumn and

dried in the sun for some days to prevent the irgrowing mouldy . Taken in white wine they are a

remedy for uterine trouble s , and a decoction is givenby the mouth for sciatica , pleurisy and roughthroats . The Ae thiopian kind , however , give s thegreate st , and immediate , re lie f .IV. Ageraton re semble s fenne l—giant , is tw o spans

high and l ike origanum, and the flowers are goldenknobs . The fume s when the plant is burnt are

diuretic and purge the uterus : used in a sitz baththe plant doe s this more effe ctive ly . The reasonfor the name is [not this but] be cause it lasts for a

long time w ithout fading.f

V . The aloe bears a re semblance to the squi l l ,but it is larger , and has more fle sby leave s , and withslanting streaks . Its stem is tender , red in the

centre , and not un l ike anthericus ; the root is single ,as it were a stake sunk into the ground .

? It has

an oppre ssive sme l l , and a bitter taste . The mostvalued kind is imported from India , but it also growsin the province of Asia . This kind is used only for

Bracketed by some , but may be an allusion to a supposedderiv ation from ”

ayew , cr from agere to driv e (i .e .

"purge

f In Greek the plant rs ay1;pam v , not growing old.

0 Mayhcfl‘

puts a full stop at stria ta and a semicolon at

demissa , adding ipsa . Dioscorides (III 22 ) has o'

À1) . The

parenthesis, however, 1s after the manner of Pliny .

Agerato

Aloe.


ad v olnera , mirifice enim conglutinat recentibus

foliis 1 v e l succ . ob id in turbinibus cadorum eams crunt ut aiz oum maius . quidam e t caulem antematuritatem seminis incidunt suci gratia , aliqui e t

folia . inv eni tur et per se lacrima adhaerens . ergo

pav imentandum ubi sata sit cens ent , ut lacrima non

absorbe atur . fuere qui traderent in Iudaea superHierosolymam me tallicam e ius naturam , sed nul lamagis improba est , n eque al ia nigrior est aut umidior .

erit ergo optima pingu is ac ni tida , rufi coloris ,friabilis e t iocineris modo coacta , facile liquescens ,inprobanda nigra e t dura , harenosa quaeque gustuint e llegitur cummi adulterata e t acacia . natura e iusspissare , densare et leniter calfacere ; usus multi ,2

sed principalis alvum solvere , cum paene sola medi camentorum quae id praestant confirmet e tiam sto

machum , adeo non inf est et u l la v i contraria . bibitur

drachma , ad stomachi vero dissolutionem in duobus

cyathis aquae t epidae v e l frigidae coclearis mensurabis t erv e in die ex interv allis , ut res exigit , purgationi s autem causa plurimum tribus drachmis ,e fficacior , si pota e a sumatur cibus . capillum

fiuent em continet cum vino austero capite contra

1recentibus folii s] in codd . post v olnera . Transponenda

esse coni . M ayhofl'

, qui in textu conglutinant succ scribit.2 mul ti M ayhofi

'

mul tis V E Detlef sen mult is et d T.

Mayhoiî suggests, but does not adopt , the transposition,

which certa inly cases the construction. See critical note 1.

Mayhofi’

suggests ne for non . Prof . Andrews takes thisclause as consecutiv e .

Le . the borders of the Dead Sea . Pliny refers to asphalt

or bitumen . At this point Pliny turns from the plant to thepreparations from it .

3 98


pilum peruncto. dolorem capitis sedat temporibus

e t fronti inposita ex aceto et rosaceo dilutiorque in

fusa . oculorum vitia omnia sanari ea conv enit , pri

vat im prurigines e t scabiem genarum , item insignita

ac l ivida inlita cum me lle , maxime Pontico , tonsillas ,

gingivas e t omn ia oris u lcera , sanguinis excreationes ,si modicae sint , drachma ex aqua , si minus , ex aceto

pota . v clnerum quoque sanguinem et undecumque

fluent em sistit per se v e l ex ace to. alias e tiam

est volneribus util issima ad cicatricem perducens .

eadem inspergitur exulceratis genitalibus v irorum,

condylomat is rimisque sedis , alias ex vino , alias ex

passo , al ias sicca per se , ut exigat mitiganda curatic

aut coercenda . haemorrhoidum quoque abun

dantiam leniter sist it . dysinteriae infunditur e t , si

difficilius concoquantur cibi , bibitur a cena modico

interval lo , e t in regio morbo tribus obolis ex aqua ,

dev orantur e t pilulae cum me ll is decocto aut resina

terebinthina ad purganda interiora . digitorum

pterygia tollit , oculorum medicamentis lav atur ut

quod sit harencsissimum subsidat , aut torretur in

te sta pinnaque subinde v ersatur ut possit aequaliter

torreri .

VI. Alcea folia habe t similia v erbenacae quae

aristereon cognominatur , caules tre s aut quattuor

foliorum plenos , florem rosae , radice s albas cum

plurumum sex , cubitale s , obliquas . nascitur in

4 0 0

BOOK XXVII. v . 1 7- v 1. 2 1

head be ing thoroughly rubbed in the contrary w ayto the hair. It re lieve s headache if it is applied invinegar and rose oil to the temples and forehead , or amore dilute solution may be poured over them . All

eye trouble s , it is agre ed , are cured by the aloe ,but it is specific for itch and sca line ss of the eye

lids it is also good , applied with honey , e spe ciallywith Pontic honey , for marks and bruise s for diseasedtonsils or gums , for all sore s in the mouth , and for

spitting of blood , the dose is a drachma , taken in

water if the spitting is not e xce ssive , and in vinegarif it is . Haemorrhage due to wounds also , or to anyother cause , it arre sts if used by itse lf or in vinegar.

In other ways too it is very use ful for wounds , as itpromote s cicatrization . It is also sprinkled on

ulcerated male gen itals , condylomata and chaps of

the anus , sometime s in wine , in raisin wine , cr e lsedry by itse lf , according as the treatment may needmi ld measure s or coercive . It a lso gently arre stsexce ssive bleeding from haemorrhoids . For dysen

tery it is inj e cted , and for indigestion it is taken indrink shortly after the evening meal . For j aundicethe dose is three obol i in water ; for internal purgingspil ls also are swal lowed made up with boiled honey or

turpentine re sin . It remove s hangnai ls ; for eye

preparations it is washed , to le t the most gritty partssettle , or e lse it is roasted in an earthen ve sse l andoccasional ly stirred with a fe ather so that the

roasting may be even throughout .

VI. Alcea has leave s l ike those of the vervaincal led arist ereon , three or four stems covered w ithle ave s , flowers like a rose , and white roòts ,

‘

six at

most , a cubit long , and slanting . It grows in a soil

Professor Andrews thinks checks.

Alcea.


pingu i solo nec sicco . usus radicis ex vino v e l aquadysintericis , alvo citae , ruptis , convulsis .

VII. Alypon cau l icu lus e st mol li capite , non

dissimi le betae , acre gustatu ac lentum mordensque

vehementer et accendens . alvum solv it in aquamulsa addito sale modico . minh a potio duarumdrachmarum , media quattuor , maxima sex , i ca

purgat ioni quibus'

f1 datur e gallinaceo iure .

2

VIII. A lsine , quam quidam myosoton appe l lant ,nascitur in lucis , unde e t alsine dieta est . incipit amedia hieme , are scit aestat e media . cum prorepit ,musculorum aure s imitatur foliis . sed al iam docebimus e sse quae iustius myosotis v oce tur . haece adem erat quae he lxine , n is i minor minusquehirsuta e sse t . nascitur in hort is e t maxime in parieti

bus . cum t eritur , odorem cucumeris reddit . ususe ius ad collectiones inflammat ionesque e t in eadem 3

omnia in quae “ he lxine ,

5sed infirmius . epiphoris

1ea purgationi quibus Jo. lll uller : eximia purgatione

quibus M ayhofl : ea purgatio quibusdam vet. Dal . , Littré.

Forta sse purgat ioni a quibusdam.

iure H ermolaus Barbarus , edd. : fere d E r : f fere R

ff erre V malit datur in iure e gallinaceo v etere M ayhoff .3et in eadem (ni E) V R E : emendat d T : item eadem

M ayhoff .4 in quae ego quae codd . et edd .

5 helxine Hermolaus Barbarus : helxines M ayhoficodd .

It is di fficul t to suggest a restoration of this sentence , but

the general sense , I think, is that when used as a purge and not

as a laxativ e alypon should be administered in chicken broth.

Dioscorides tells us that the bowelsmight be injured by the useof alypcn, and in è 95 w e learn that chi cken broth w as used to

mitigate such harmful eff ects . The v arious readings show thatthe text is corrupt . It is very strange that iure, the practically

4 0 2


peculiarit er inponitur, item v erendis ulceribusque

cum farina hordeacia . sucus e ius auribus infunditur .

IX. Androsace s herba est alba , amara , sine foliis,folliculos in cirris habens e t in his semen . nascitur

in maritimi s Syriae maxime . datur hydropicis

drachmis duabus tusa aut decocta in aqua v e l acetov e l vino. vehementer en im urinas ciet . datur e t

podagricis inliniturque . idem e ffectus et seminis.

X . Androsaemon sive , ut alii appe llav ere , ascyronnon absimile est hyperico, de qua diximus , cauliculis

maioribus densioribusque et magis rubent ibus . fol iaalba rutae figura , semen papav eris n igri . comae

tritae sanguineo succ manant . odor e is resinosus .

gignitur in vinc is , fere medio autumno e ffoditur

suspenditurque . usus ad purgandam alvum tusae

cum semine potaeque matutino v e l a cena duabusdrachmis in aqua mulsa v e l vino v e l aqua pura ,

potionis tot ius sextario. trahit bilem, prodest

ischiadi maxime , sed postera die capparis radicem

resinae pe rmixtam de vorare oportet drachmae

pondere , iterumque quadridui interval lo e ademfacere , a purgatione autem ipsa robustiores vinumbibere , infirmiores aquam. inponi tur e t podagris e t

ambustis e t v olneribus cohibens sanguinem.

XI. Ambrosia vagi nomin is et circa a lias herbasfluctuat i unam habe t certam , densam, ramosam,

See XXVI 585 .

It seems un certain whether this sentence applies to boththe preceding remarks or only to the latter . Littré, followedby Bostock and Ril ey, make the sed clause apply only to

sciatica . On the other hand, a purgations ipsa would, I think,suggest that the clause trahit bilem is also included. Dioscorides is of no help here .

E .g . in XXV 160 it aiz oummaius , and in XXV 74 itartemisia .

40 4

BOOK XXVII. VIII. 2 4—x1 . 2 8

Especial ly is it applied to eye fluxes , and with barleymea l to sore geni tals and ulcers . Its juice is pouredinto the e ars .

IX. Androsace s is a whitish plant , bitter , leafless ,w ith se ed pods in hairy tufts . It grows e special lyalong the sea coast of Syr ia . For dropsy are pre

scribed tw o—drachma dose s of the plant pounded or

boi led dow n in water , vinegar, or w ine , for it is a

powerful diuretic . It is also pre scribed for dropsy and

applied local ly . The seed too has the same propertie s .X . Androsaemon , or, as others have cal led it ,

ascyron , is not unlike hypericum, about which I havealready spoken ,

“ but the stalks are larger , closertoge ther , and redder . Its leave s are pale and shapedlike those of rue ; the se ed re semble s that of the

dark poppy . The stalk tops when crushed give out a

juice of the colour of blood . The ir sme l l is resinous .It grows in vineyards ; about the middle of autumnit is dug and hung up. When used as a purgeit is pounded W ith the seed and taken early in the

morn ing or after dinner , the dose be ing tw o drachmae

in hydrome l , wine , or plain water , and the wholedraught a sextarius . It brings away bile , and i se xce l lent for sciatica , but

“on the fol low ing day

should be swal lowed a drachma of caper root we l lmixed with re sin . This dose should be repeatedafter an interval of four days . After the actualpurging wine should be drunk by the strongerpatients and water by the weaker. The plant isapplied a lso to gouty limbs , to burns , and, as itstanches blood , to wounds .

XI. Ambrosia , an inde terminate name loose lygiven to other 6 plants , is the primary name of one

in particu lar , which is branchy and close se t ,

40 5

Andros

Androsa

mon.

Ambrosi


t enuem, trium fere palmorum , tertia parte radicebrev iore , foliis rutae c irca imum caulem. in ramulis

semen est uv is dependent ibus , odore vinoso qua decausa botrys a quibusdam v ocatur , ab aliis artemisia .

coronantur i l la Cappadoces . usus e ius ad e a quaediscuti opus sit .

XII. Anonim qu idam ononida malunt vocare ramo

sam, similem feno Graeco , n is i fruticosior hirsutiorquee sset , odore iucunda , post v er

1 spinosa . e sture tiam muria condita , recens vero margine s ulcerumerodit . radix decoquitur in posca dolori dentium .

e adem cum me l le pota calculos pellit . comitialibus

datur in oxyme lit e de cocta ad dimidias .

XIII. Anagyros , quam aliqui acopon v ocant , fruti

cosa est , gravis odore , flore oleris , semen in corniculis

non brev ibus gignit , simile renibus , quod durescit perme sse s . fol ia collectionibus inponuntur difficult erque

parientibus adalligantur ita ut a partu statimauferantur . quod si emortuus haereat et secundae

mensesque morentur , drachma bibuntur in passo fol ia .

sic e t suspiriosis dantur , e t in vino vetere ad phalan

gioruin morsus . radix discut iendis concoquendisque

adhibetur , semen commanducatum v omi tiones facit .XIV. Anonymos non inv eniendo nomen invenit .

adfertur e Scythia , ce lebrata Hicesic non parvae1v er R d vulg. , M ayhoff v ero V Detlefsen .

Dioscorides (III 114) has no such epithet for the plant asa whole , but says that the root is Àem fi, The

similarity of 8w m’

0apc g and 7 pw 7riday.os probably caused the

error .

The word in Greek means grape- cluster.

3 3

3 4


auctoritatis medi co , item Aristogitoni , in v olneribus

praeclara , ex aqua tusa inposita , pota vero mammis

praecordi isv e percussis , item sangu inem excreantibus .

putav ere et bibendam v olneratis . fabu losa arbitror

quae adiciuntur , re cente ca si uratur ferrum aut aes

feruminari.XV . Aparinen aliqui omphalocarpcn , ali i philan

thropon vocant , ramosam , hirsutam , quinis senisv e

in orbem circa ramos folus per interval la . semen

rotundum , durum , concavum , subdulce . nascitur in

frumentario agro aut hortis pratisv e , asperitate e tiamve st ium tenaci . e fficax contra serpente s semine potoex vino drachma e t contra phalangia . sanguinisabundantiam ex v olneribus reprimunt folia inposita ,suons auribus infunditur .

XVI. Arction aliqui potins arcturum vocant .

simi lis est verbasco foliis , ni si quod hirsutiora sunt ,caule longo, mol li , semine cumini . nascitur in

pe trosis , radice tenera , alba dulcique . decoquitur in

vino ad dentium dolorem ita ut cont ineatur ore .

1

de coctum bibitur propter ischiada e t stranguriam .

ex vino ambustis inponitur e t pernionibus . fov entur

eadem cum radice semine trito in vino .

XVII. Asplenon sunt qui hemi onion vocant , foliis

trientalibus multis , radice limosa , cavernosa sicut1 ita ut contineatur ore vulg. ut ore ita contineatur M ay

hoff ita sine ut codd.

Praecordia is a di fficult word. It may mean : (I) thediaphragm, or the region just abov e it ; (2 ) the tw o hypochondria ; (3 ) the chest ; (4 ) v iscera generally. Here the

usual mean ing, is perhaps to be preferred toDioscorides III 90 : 15w o

'

xou\ov e’

x p.e'

cou ai;

The reading seems to be settled by 5 108 of this bookdecoctum medetur ita , ut continea tur ore.

40 8

BOOK XXVII. XIV . 3 I—XVII. 3 4

physician c f no smal l authority , Spre ad its fame , as

did Aristogiton ; it is exce l lent for wounds if appliedpounded in water ; taken however in drink it isequal ly good for blows on the bre asts or on the

hypochondria ,“ l ikewise for spitting of blood . Some

authorities have he ld that wounded patients shouldtake it in drink . The further statement I thinkfabulous , that if burnt fresh it acts as solder for iron or

copper .

XV . Aparine , cal led by some omphalocarpos , byothers philanthropos , is branchy , hairy , and withfiv e or six leave s arranged at intervals in a circlearound the branche s . The seed is round , hard ,hol lowed ,“ and rather swee t . It grows in cornfie lds ,or gardens , or meadows , and is so prickly as e vento cling to the clothe s . The seed , taken in drachma

doses in wine , is eflicacicus against the bite of serpentsand poisonous spiders . The leave s , applied local ly ,che ck e xce ssive bleeding from wounds . The juice ispoured into the ears .XVI. Arction , which some pre fer to cal l arcturus ,

has leave s l ike those of verbascum , except that theyare more hairy . The stem is long and soft , and theseed like that of cummin . It grows on rocky soi ls ,and has a tender root , whitish and swee t . A de ccotion of it in wine is given for tooth - ache , but it must bere tained in the mouth .

c The decoction is drunk forsciatica and strangury . In wine the root “ is appliedto burns and chilblains , which are also fomented withthe seed pounded in wine with the root .

XVII. Asplenon , cal led by some hemionion , has

many le ave s four inche s 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.

Aparin

Arctian

Asplen


filicis , candida , hirsuta , nec caulem nec florem nec

semen habe t . nascitur in pe tris parie tibusque opa

cis , umidis , laudat issima in Creta . huius foliorumin aceto decocto per die s xxx poto lienem absumiaiunt , e t illinuntur autem eadem . sedant et singultus .feminis non danda , quoni am st erilitat em facit .

XVIII. Asclepias fol ia hederae habet , ramoslongos , radices numerosas , tenue s , odoratas , floris

virus grave , semen securiclatum .

1nascitur in mon

tibus . radice s torminibus medentur e t contra ser

pentium ictus non solum potu , sed e tiam inlitu .

XIX. A ster ab aliquis bubonion appellatur , quo

n iam inguinum praesentan eum remedium e st .

cauli culus foliis oblongis duobus aut tribus , in cacumine capitu la ste llae modo radiata . bibitur e t

adversus serpente s . sed ad inguinum medicinamsinistra manu decerpi iubent e t iuxta cinctus alligari .

prodest e t coxendicis dolori adalligata .

XX . Ascyron e t ascyroides sim i lia sunt inter se e t

hyperico , sed maiore s habe t ramos quod ascyroides

v ocatur , ferulaceos , i omnia i‘ 2

rubent es , capitulis

parv is , luteis . semen in caliculis pusil lum , n igrum ,

re sinosum . comae tritae ve lut cruentant , qua de

1securiclatum V. Detlefsen , M ayhoff securidacae Hermo

laus Barbarus . Cf . XVIII , 155 .

2omnia codd . : omnino vulg. : coma M ayhoff.

Dioscorides (III says it is the leav es that are

év7 €nrnuéva and d 9€ v

Dioscorides has 1jpépa5‘

r eoaapcixow a .

The Greek BovBa3 v means groin .

”

I hav e left the omnia of the MSS . within daggers , as thecoma of Mayhc ff does not conv ince me . Dioscorides says

(III 155 ) that it is the xapw o'

s of ascyron that stains red, and of

4 1 0


causa quidam hanc androsaemon vocav ere . ususseminis ad ischiadicos poti duabus drachmis in

hydrome litis sextario . alvum solvit , bilem de trahi t .

inlinitur e t ambust is .

XXI. Aphaca t enuia admodum fol ia habet e t 1

pusil la . altior lenticu la e t 2 sil iquas maiore s fert inquibus terna aut quaterna semina sunt nigriora e t

minora lenticu la . nascitur in arvis . natura ad

spissandum e fficacior quam lenti , reliquos ususeosdem habe t . stomachi alv ique fluctiones sistit

semen de coctum .

XXII. Alcibium qualis e sse t herba non repperi

apud auctore s , sed radicem e ius e t folia trita ad

serpentis morsum impon i e t bibi , folia quantummanuscapiat trita cum vin i meri cyathis tribus aut radicemdrachmarum trium pondere cum vin i e ademmensura .

XXIII. Alectoros lophos , quae apud nos cristadicitur , folia habe t simi lia gallinace i cristae plura ,caulem t enuem , semen n igrum in siliquis. util istussientibus cccta cum faba fre sa , me l le addito e t

caligin i oculorum . solidum semen coicitur in ocu

lum, nec turbat , sed in se caliginem contrahit , mutat

colorem e t ex migro albicare incipit e t intumescit ac

per se exit .

XXIV . Alum nos vocamus , Graeci symphytonpe traeum simi le cunilae bubulae , foliis parvis , ramis

1et post habet coni. M ayhoff .

et VRd M ayhojff est Er vulg. , Detlef sen .

Le . man’

s blood.

A difficult sentence ; perhaps Mayhcff’

s punctuation and

conjecture (he adds et before pusilla ) are the best solution .

Pusilla might be taken with the next sentence , to explain theabrupt introduction of the lent il : Though small it is yettaller than the lentil, ” but Dioscorides (II, 148) has merely

4 1 2

BOOK XXVII. XX. 3 7—XXIV. 4 1

there fore some have cal led the plant androsaemon .

“

Tw o—drachmae dose s of the se ed , taken in a sex

tarius of hydrome l , are used for sciatica . It loosensthe bowe ls , brings away bile , and is applied to burns .XXI. Aphaca has very slender and tiny leave s . Aphaca

Tal ler than the lenti l it a lso bears larger pods , inwhich are three or four seeds , darker and smal lerthan those of the lentil . It grows in cultivated fie lds ,and has bracing “ qualitie s more powerfu l than thoseof the lentil , its other use s be ing the same . A de

coction of the se ed checks fluxes of the stomach and

bowe ls .XXII. In my authoritie s I have found no descrip Alcibiw

tion of alcibium , but on ly that its pounded root andleave s are applied local ly , and taken in drink , for

snake bite ; a handfu l of the pounded leave s withthre e cyathi of me at wine , cr three drachmae bywe ight of the root with the same measure of wine .

XXIII. Alectoros lophos , which w e Romans call Al……comb (crista) , has several leave s l ike a cock

’s comb ,a slender stem, and black seed in pods . Boi led withground beans it is use ful for cough , and with the

addition of honey for film on the eye s . The se ed iscast whole into the eye ; it does no harm but

attracts the film to itse lf . Changing colour it beginsto turn from black to white , swe l ls , and works out byitse lf .XXIV . We Romans cal l alum what the Greeks cal l Az… .

symphyton petraeum . It is l ike ox cun ila , w ithsmal l leave s and three or four branche s grow ing from

gbaxov v :/nqÀor epoy, The Greek suggests that

pusilla may be an addition (e ither by Pliny himself or by a

scribe ) to explain tenuia , but Pliny may hav e had before hima different Greek text .

Or astringent .

”


tribus aut quattuor a radice , cacuminibus thymi ,surculosum , odoratum , gustu dulce , salivam ciems ,radice longa rutila . nascitur in pe tris idee pe traeumcognominatum, utilissimum lateribus , renibus , tor

min ibus , pectori , pulmonibus , sanguinem re icientibus ,faucibus asperis . bibitur radix trita et in vinode cocta , e t aliquando superlinitur. quin e t commanducata sitim sedat praecipueque pulmonemre frigerat . luxatis quoque inponitur et contusis ,

lenit int eranea . alvum sistit cocta in cinere detraet isque folliculis trita cum piperis granis novem et ex

aqua pota . v olneribus sanandis tanta praestant ia est

ut carne s quoque , dum cocuntur , conglutinet addita ,

unde e t Graeci nomen inposuere . ossibus quoquefract is mede tur , XXV . alga rufa scorpionum ictibus.

XXVI. Actae a gravi foliorum odore , caulibus

asperis geniculat is , semine migro ut hederae , bacismollibus , nascitur in opacis e t asperis aquosisque .

datur ace tabulo pleno int erioribus feminarum morbis .

XXVII. Ampe los agria v ocatur herba foliis duriscineracei coloris , qualem in satis diximus , v iticulis

longis , callosis , rubent ibus , qualiter flos quem Iov is

Hammam appellamus . in uv olis 1 fert semen similePunici mal i acinis . radix e ius decocta in aquaecyathis tern is , additis vini Coi cyathis duobus, alvumsolv it lenit er ideoque hydropicis datur . uvolae vitiacutis in facie mulierum emendant . ischiadicos quo

1uv olis Ianus e Dioscoride varia codd .

Le . coalescing, grown together.

See XXIII 5 19 . The word satis is strange , as sata

includes all cultiv ated plants and trees, and the reference

accordingly seems v ague . Perhaps Pliny means that thi s

w ild v ine is described m his accoun t of cultivated v ines .


que uti hac herba prodest tusa cum foliis e t inlita cum

succ suo .

XXVIII. Absinthn genera plura sunt : Santonicumappe llatur e Galliae civitate , Pont icum e Ponto, ubipecora pinguescunt i l lo e t ob id sine fe l le reperiuntur ,neque al iud praestantius ,multoque Ital icum

1amarius,

sed medul la Pontici dulcis . de usu e ius conv enit ,

herbae facillimae atque inter paucas utilissimae ,

praeterea sacris popul i Roman i ce lebratae pecul iarit er , siquidem Latinarum feriis quadrigae certant in

Capitolio v ictorque absinthium bibit , credo , sanitat em

praemio dari honorifice arbitratis maioribus . sto

machum corroborat , et cb hoc sapor e ius in vinatransfertur , ut diximus . bibitur e t de coctum aquaac postea nocte e t die re frigeratum sub divo,

2

Tdecoctis sex drachm is foliorum cum rami s suis incae lestis aquae sextarii tribus , oportet et salem addì .

v etust issimum usu est’

l‘

.

3 bibitur e t made facti dilutum , ita enim appe lletur hoc genus . diluti ratio ut ,

quisquis fuerit modus aquae , t egatur per triduum .

1 Italicum d Hard. , M ayhofi Italico VRE Detlefsen .

div o E vulg. , Detlefsen diu V 1Rd Ianus , M ayhoff .

Tdecoctis usu est î ] S ic Detlefsen post Urlichs

deccci VI drachmis foliorum cum ramis suis in cae lestis aquae

sextariis III oporte t , nec non salem addì v etustissimi usus estM ayhoff : in codd . decocti aut decoctis , nec (pro et ) vetust issime aut v etus sine usu est .

See XIV 109 .

I hav e kept Detlefsen’

s text w ithin daggers because no

proposed emendation rs quite sat isfactory. The negativ e nec

is probably genuine , but seems to require sine usu afterwards ,leav ing vetus without grammatical connection unless a fullstop is put at addi. It is just possible to make sense of the

MSS . reading if w e do this and also accept the attractiv e decociof Mayhoff six drachmae ought to be boiled down

4 16

BOOK XXVII. XXVII. 44—XXV III. 46

re lieved by this plant ground up with the leave s andapplied with its ow n juice .

XXVIII. There are several kinds of wormwood .AW…

The Santonic come s from the state of the Santon i inGau] , the Pontic from Pontus , where cattle fatten on

it , and so are found to be without gal l ; there is nofiner wormwood than this , the Italian be ing far more

bitter , but the pith of Pontic wormwood is swe e t .About its use there is general agreement , for it is aplant very easily found , and one of the most use ful ,be ing moreover e specially honoured at the re ligiousrite s of the Roman people , se e ing that at the Latinfe stiva l there is a race for four—horse chariots on theCapitoline H i ll , the winner of which take s a draughtof wormwood , our ance stors thinking , I be lieve , thathealth w as a ve ry grand prize to give . It strengthensthe stomach and for this reason it is used , as I havesaid ,“ to give a flavour to wine s . A decoction in

water , which is afterwards cooled in the open for a

day and a night , i s a lso taken ; six drachmae of the

le ave s with the ir branche s are boi led down in thre esextarii of rain water; sa lt too should be added . Whenvery old it can stil l be used .

“ There is a lso administered an infusion of wormwood in water ; for thispreparation shou ld be styled infusion ,

”

and an

e ssentia l of the infusion is that , whatever quantity“ ofwater is used ,

for thre e days the preparation shouldbe wholly enclosed . Pounded wormwood is rare ly

without the addition of salt . When old the decoct ion cannot

be used. Perhaps the nec looks to the occasions 48) whenw e are told that salt is added . Mayhofî

’

s emendationsgiv e us six drachmae should be boiled down , and to

add salt is a v ery old usage .

Perhaps kind .

VOL. VII.


47 tritum raro in usu est , sicut et sucus expressi. ex

48

primitur autem , cum primum semen turgescit ,

made factum aqua tri duo recens aut siccum septemdiebus , de in coctum in aeneo vaso ad tertias decemheminis in aquae sextariis XLV it erumque per

colatum , herba e lecta ,

1coquitur ad crassitudinem

me ll is , qualiter ex minore centauric quaeritur sucus .

sed hi c [absinthii]2 inutilis stomacho capitique est ,

cum sit ille decoctus 3 saluberrimus . namque ad

stringit stomachum bilemque de trahit , urinam ciet ,

alvum emollit e t in dolore sanat , ven tris animalia

pe llit , malaciam stomachi e t infl ationes discut it

cum sile e t nardo Gallico , ace ti exiguo addito . fastidiaabst erget , concoctiones adiuv at , cruditates detrahit

cum ruta e t pipere et sale . antiqui purgationiscausa dabant cum marinae aquae v et eris sextario

seminis sex drachmas cum tribus salis ,me llis cyatho.

49 e fficacius purgat duplicato sale . diligent er autemteri debe t propter diflicultat eml quidam e t in

polenta dedere supra di ctum pondus , addito pule io ,

alii pueris folia ’1 in fico sicca , ut amaritudinem fal

lerent . thoracem purgat cum iride sumptum . in

regio morbo erudum bibitur cum apio aut adianto .

adversus inflationes calidum paulatim sorbetur ex

1 herba electa M ayhofi herbae lecta V : herba e lisaUrlichs , Detlef sen herba lente vulg. forta sse eiecta .

absinthii] In unc is Dal . , Mdecoctus cod. Dal . , vulg. , M ayhoff decocti T Detlef sen

decoctis codd .

folia] In uncis Hard. , M ayhofi .

Literally the juice of the squeez ed wormwood.


aqua , iocineris causa cum Gallico nardo, lienis cumaceto aut pu lte aut fico sumitur. adv ersatur fungisex ace to, item visco , cicutae ex vino e t muris aranc imorsibus , draconi marino, scorpionibus . oculorum

claritati multum con fert . epiphoris cum passo in

ponitur , suggillatis cum me l le . aure s decocti 1

e ius vapor suffìtu sanat aut , si manent san ie , cumme l le tritum . urinam ac mense s cient tre s quattuorv e ramuli cum Gal lici nardi radice una , cyathis

aquae sex , menses privatim cum me l le sumptum

et in ve l lere adpositum . anginae subv eni t cum me l lee t nitro. epinyctidas ex aqua sanat , v olnera recentia

prius quam aqua tangantur inpositum , prae terea

capitis u lcera . peculiariter ilibus inponitur cum

Cypria cera aut cum fico . sanat e t pruritus . non est

dandum in febri. nausias maris arcet in navigat ionibus pctum , inguinum tumorem in ventral i habitum . somnos adlicit olfactum aut inscio sub capitepositum . v e st ibus insertum tine as arce t . cu l ice s exoleo perunctis abigit e t fumo, si uratur . atramentumlibrarium ex di luto e ius t emperatum litteras a musculis 2 tuetur . capillum denigrat absinthii cinis un

guento rosaceoque permixtus .

XXIX . Est e t absinthium marinum , quod qu idamseriphum v ocant , prcbatissimum in Taposiri Aegypti .

huius ramum Isiaci praeferre sollemne habent .

1 decocti M ayhoff decoctae multi codd . , Detlefsendecocte R d .

musculis Hermolaus Barbarus e Dioscoride : muscis

plerique codd. , vu lg.

See XXVI 3 1.

Or and .

”

The ilia are the upper abdomen from the ribs to the pubesthe inguen is the lower abdomen on e ither side of the pubes .

BOOK XXVII. XXVIII. 49—XXIX. 53

Gallio nard ; for the spleen , with vinegar, pottage or

fig . In vinegar it is an antidote to poisonous fungi ,as also to mistle toe ; in w ine , to hemlock , the poisonof the shrew mouse , sea we eve r and scorpions . It

is a great aid to clear vision . With raisin wine it isapplied to eye fluxes , and with honey to bruise s .Ear trouble is cured by fumigation with the steamof the decoction , or when bloody pus exude s , bypounded wormwood with honey . Thre e or four

twigs , with one root of Gal lic nard and six cyathi ofwater , are diure tic and an emmenagogue ; it isspecific for faulty menstruation if taken with honeyor

“applied as a pe ssary in wool . With honey and

soda it is he lpful for qu insy . In water it cure s n ightrashes . Re cent wounds it he als if applied be forethey have been touched w ith water ; it cure s , more

over , sore s on the head . With Cyprian w ax or w ithfig it make s an exceptionally good application for

affe ctions of the Hanks .

“ It also cure s pruritus , butmust not be given to feverish patients . Taken in

drink on se a voyage s it prevents nau se a ; wornunder a be l ly—band , swe llings of the groin .

“ It

induces sle ep if inhaled through the nose or placedsecretly under the sufferer ’s head . Put into clothe sit ke eps away moth . Rubbing the body all over withit in oil drive s away gnats , as does the smoke of itwhen burnt . Writing ink mixed with the infusionprotects the writing from mice . Ashe s of wormwood mixed with ointment and rose - oil stain the hairblack .

XXIX . There is also a sea wormwood , cal led bysome seriphum, the most approved growing at

Taposiris in Egypt . At the ceremonie s of Isis theprie sts carry a branch of it ritual ly be fore them.

4 2 1


angustius priore minusque amarum , stomacho ini

micum , alvum mol lit pellitque animalia int eraneo

rum . bibitur cum oleo e t sale aut in farinae tri

mestris sorbitione dilutum . coquitur quantum manuscapiat in aquae sextario ad dimidias .

XXX . Balloten a lio nomine porrum nigrum Graeci

v ocant , herbam frut icosam angulosis caulibus n igris ,hirsut is foliis v estient ibus , maioribus quam porri e tnigrioribus , grav eolent ibus . vis e ius e fficax adversuscan is morsus ex sale foliis tri tis inpositae , item ad

condylomata coctis cinere in folio oleris . purgat e t

sordida ulcera cum me lle .

XXXI. Botrys fruticosa herba e st lute is ramulis .

semen circa totos nascitur , fol ia cichorio simi lia .

inv enitur in torrentium ripis, medetur orthopnoicis .

hoc Cappadoces ambrosiam v ocant , alii art emisiam.

XXXII. Brabilla spissandi v im habe t cotone i malimodo , nec amplius de e a tradunt auctores .

XXXIII. Bryon marinum herba sine dubitat ioneest lactucae foliis simi lis , rugosa ve lut contracta , sinecau le ab una radice exeuntibus foliis . nascitur in

scopulis maxirne t estisque terra conprehensis . prae

That this is the meaning of diluiam seems to be likely fromthe phrase in Dioscorides (III 23 ) où ;Sodnjy an gba /( fis xa66

tlmfieîaa .

Dioscorides has (III xa vÀoùs (i i/ [77m r erpaya'

rvovs.

Dioscorides (loc. cit. ) 5v 0’a'

1517.

It is un ce rtain whether in folio oleris goes with ocolis or w ithimposita e (understood) . There is nothing in Dioscorides tocorrespond.

Sometimes spelt brabyla .

Or, bracing,”or , thi ckening.

Not mere seaweed, as Theophrastus (H .P . IV v i 6) seems

to suggest .

4 2 2


cipua siccandi spissandique vis e i e t collectiones

inflammationesque omne s inhibendi , praecipue podagrae et quicquid re frigerari opus sit .

XXXIV . Bupleuri semen ad ictus serpentium darireperio fov erique plagas decocta e a herba adiect is

foliis mori aut origami.XXXV . Catanancen Thessalam herbam qualis sit

describi a nobis superv acuum e st , cum sit usus e iusad amatoria tantum . i l lud non ab re est dixis se ad

detegendas magicas v anitates , e lectam ad hunc usumconiectura , quon iam arescens contraheret se ad

speciem ungu ium milv i exanimat i. eadem ex causae t cemos silebitur nobis .

XXXVI. Calyx duorum generum est . una simil isarc nascitur in arationibus , colligitur ant equam

inarescat , usus eosdem habet quos aris .

1 bibitur

quoque radix huius ad exinaniendas alvos mensesque

mulierum , item cau le s cum foliis in leguminibus

decocti sanant t enesmon . XXXVII. alterum genuse ius quidam anchusam v ocant , al ii rhinocliam.

2

folia 3 lactucae longiora , plumosa , radice rubra , quaeignes sacros cum flore polentae sanat inposita , iocine

ris autem vitia in vino albo pota .

XXXVIII. Circae a trychno sativo simi l is est , floremigro pus il lo , parvo semine mi lii nascente in quibusdam corniculis , radice semipedali, triplici fere aut

quadruplici , a lba , odorata , gustus calidi . nascitur in

1aris Hard. ars aut hars codd . post ars in codd . a , unde at

corri. Mayhoff om. Detlef sen .

rhinocliam Ianus e Plinii indice onocliam S illig e

Dioscoride : varia codd .

folia d E vulg. , Mayhoff folio VR Detlefsen, qui longiore

etplumosc coni.

Or, to thicken .

BOOK XXVII. XXXIII. 56—XXXVIII. 60

propertie s are to dry , a stringency,“ and to reduce

all gatherings and inflammations , in particular thoseof gout , and whenever there is ne ed of coolingapplications .XXXIV . The se ed of bupleuron I find is given for Bupleur

snake bite , and that wounds are fomented with a

de coction of this plant to which has be en addedle ave s of mulberry or of origanum.

XXXV . Catanance , a The ssalian plant , it would be Catuna?!

a waste of time for me to de scribe , since it is usedonly for love—potions . One thing it is quite per

t inent to say in order to show up the fraud of sorcerythe plant w as chosen for this purpose through aninference because as it withers it crumple s up intothe shape of the claws of a dead kite .

“ For the same

reason I sha ll say nothing about cemos .

XXXVI. There are tw o kinds of calyx . One is Calyxl ike arum , and grows on ploughed land . It isgathered be fore it withers , and has the same use s asaris . Its root is a lso taken in drink as a powerfulaperient and emmenagogue , while its stalks , boileddown with the le ave s in pulse , cure s tene smus .XXXVII. The other kind of it is cal led by some

anchusa , by others rhinoclia , having leave s like thoseof lettuce , but longer and downy , and a red root .This applied with the fine st pearl barley cureserysipe las , and , taken in white wine , liver complaints .XXXVIII. Circaea is like cultivated trychnos , Circaea.

having a tiny , dark flower, smal l seed like that of

mil le t forming in a sort of l ittle horn , a six—inch root ,generally triple or quadruple , whitish , scented , andWith a hot taste . It grows on sunny rocks . An

Coniectura is an interpretation of a div iner.

By imitativ e magic it books its v ictim.


apricis saxis . diluitur in vino bibiturque ad doloremvulvae e t vitia . macerari oportet in sextariis tribus

quadrant em radicis tusae nocte et die 1; trahit

e adem potio e t 2 secundas . semine lac minuit 3 invino aut mulsa aqua poto.

XXXIX . Cirsion caul iculus est tener duum cubitorum , triangulo similis , foliis spinosis circumdatus.

spinae mol le s sunt . fol ia bovis l inguae simi lia ,

minora , subcandida , in cacumine capitu la purpureaquae solvuntur in lanugines . hanc herbam radicemv e

e ius adalligatam dolore s v aricum sanare tradunt .

XL. Crataegonon spicae tritici simi le e st , multiscalamis ex una radice emicant ibus multorumque

geniculorum, in opacis , semine miln , vehementeraspero gustu , quod si bibant ex vino ante cenam

tr ibus obolis in cyathis aquae totidem mul ier ac v ir

ante conceptum diebus XL , viri lis sexus partumfuturum aiunt . e t al ia e st crataegonos quae the lygonos v ocatur. diff erentia int ellegitur leni tate gustus.

" sunt qui florem crataegoni bibentes mulierum

intra XL diem concipere tradant . e aedem sanant

ulcera vetera nigra cum me lle , explent sinus . ulcerume t atropha carnosiora faciunt , purulenta expurgant ,panos discutiunt , podagras collectionesque omne s

1nocte et die plures codd . , M ayhojj

’

noctem et diem E

Detlefsen .

2potio et codd . , Detlef sen pctione Mayhofl .

3 minuit in uncis ponit M ayhofi , Dioscoridern secutus .

Dioscorides (III 119 ) has yafÀa. xar a aw gî , and therefore

Mayhoff brackets minuit. Perhaps Pliny thought that

Ka f aa vrqî means keeps (draws ) away from the breasts .

A soft prickle may sound strange , but is quite in

te lligible . Perhaps here spine might be better.

4 2 6


leniunt , peculiarit er mammarum . Th eophrastu s ar

bori s genus int e llegi v oluit crataegon1 sive cratae

gona , quam Itali aqui folium v ocant .

XLI. Crocodileon chamaeleonis herbae nigraefiguram habet , radice longa a equaliter crassa , odoris

asperi . nascitur in sabuletis . pota sanguinem per

nare s pellit copiosum crassumque ; item 2 lienes

consumere dicitur .

XLII. Cynosorchim aliqui orchim vocant , foliis

ole ac , mollibus , terni s per semipedem longitudinis in

terra stratis , radi ce bu lbosa , oblonga , duplici ordine ,superiore quae durior est , inferiore quae mollicr.

eduntur ut bu lbi coctae , in vinc is fere inv entae . ex

his radicibus si maiorem edant viri , mare s generaridicunt , si minorem feminae , a lterum sexum . in

Thessalia molliorem in lacte caprino viri bibunt ad

stimulandos coitus , duriorem vero ad inhibendos.

adv ersantur a ltera alteri .XLIII. Chrysolachanum in pineto lactucae simi le

nascitur . sanat nervos incisos , si conf estim in

ponatur . e t alibi genus chrysolachani traditur,flore aureo , foliis oleris . coctum e stur ut olus molle .

hae c herba adalligata morbum regium habentibus ita

ut spectari ab his possit sanare id malum tradi tur .

1crataegon Hard. e Theophras to, Mayhojf crataegonon

Detlef sen cummultis codd .

2 item Urlichs , Detlef sen ita et Mayhofi ita aut ida codd .

See Theophrastus , H .P . III 15 , 6 . The tree describedthere is a type of thorn , perhaps Crata egus H eldreichii. But

a quifolium Is our holly . A mistake apparently of Pliny.

The ita of the MSS . may be right , but it generally refersto some more e laborate preparation than the single wordpata .

4 2 8

BOOK XXVII. XL. 63—XLIII. 66

the breasts . By crataegos cr crataegon Theo

phrastus would have us understand the tree which inItaly is cal led aqu ifolium .

XLI. Crocodileon is like black chamae leon in

shape , with a long root uniformly thick , and a pun

gent sme l l . It grows in sandy places . Taken in

drink it causes copious epistaxis of thick blood ; it isalso said to reduce the spleen .

XLII. Cynosorchis , cal led by some orchis , hasleave s l ike olive leaves , soft , thre e in number and

lying on the ground to the length of half a foot .The root is bulbous , longish , and in tw o parts , theupper be ing harder and the lower softer. Foundgeneral ly in vineyards the se are boi led and eaten as

are bulbs . If men e at the larger of the se roots ,male children are said to be conce ived , but female ifthe smal ler is eaten by women . In The ssaly men

take in goat ’s mi lk the softer root as an aphrodisiac ,but the harder as an antaphrodisiac . The one partneutralize s the other.

XLIII. Chrysolachanum , grow ing in pine woods , islike le ttuce . If applied at once it heals cut sinews .

Elsewhere too is said to grow a kind of Chrysola

chanum with a golden flower and leave s like those of

cabbage . It i s eaten boiled as a soft “ vege table .

This plant , tied on as an amule t so that the patientcan look at it , is said to cure j aundice . I know that

Parts of the description are not inDioscorides (III but

the tw o authorities in this chapter are remarkably alike ,though with startling diff erences . E .g. , Dioscorides has

wpaocov opeîra z 8’

«in Ka i rds e’

v ®eaaax\ia yv va îxas r òv p.èvdna /\òv where Pliny has viri .

So Littré . The Bohn translators say laxativ e but I

can find only one instance of mollis in (almost ) that sense , beingused howev er as an epithet of alvus, i.s . , relaxed bowels .

”

Crocodil

Cynosor

Chrysohan…

and othe

plants.


de chrysolachano nec satis dici scio nec plura reperio,

namque e t hoc vitic laborav ere proximi utique herbarii nostri , quod ipsis notas v e luti vulgare s strict ime t nominibus tantum indicav ere , tamquam coaguloterrae alvum sist i, s tranguriam dissolvi , si bibatur ex

aqua aut v ino , XLIV . cucul li 1 folia trita cum acetoserpent ium ict ibus e t scorpionum mederi . quidamhanc a lio nomine strumum appe llant , alii Graecestrychnum , acinos habe t nigros . ex his c'yathus sucicum mulsi duobus medetur lumbis , itemcapitis doloricum rosaceo infusus , ipsa strumae

2 inlita .

XLV. Peculiaris e st Alpinis maxime fluminibus

conferva appe l lata a»

confe ruminando , spongea

aquarum dulcium v erius quam museus aut herba ,

villosae densitatis atque fistulosae . curatum ea scioomnibus fere ossibus confractis prolapsum ex arborealta putatorem , circumdata universo corpori , aquamsuam adspergentibus quot iens inaresce re t , raroque

nec nisi deficient em herbam mutationi s causa re solv entibus , conv aluisse vix credibili ce leritat e .

XLVI. Cocco Cnidio color cocci , magnitudo grano

piperis maior , vis ardens . itaque in pane devoraturne adurat gulam transitu . vis praesentanea contracicutam, sistit alvum.

1cuculli coni. Detlefsen, quem sequitur M ayhojf : a liae

con iecturae sunt cucubali et cacubali cuculi aut culi culi codd .

2strumae Ianus, M ayhojj

’struma codd . , Detlefsen.

Or, arrests diarrhoea ,

”binds the bowels .

Literally, cures strangury.

”


XLVII. Dipsacos folia habet lactucae bullasque

spinosas in dorsi medio , cau lem duum cubitorum

isdem spinis horridum, genicu la e ius bin i s foliis

amplectent ibus concavo alarum sinu in quo subsist it

ros salsus . in cacumine capitula sunt e chinata spinis .

nas citur in aquosis . sanat rimas sedis , item fis tulas

decocta in vino radice usque dum sit crassitudo cerac ,ut possit in fistulas collyrium mi tti , item verrucasomnium generum . quidam et a larum quas supradiximus sucum inlinunt his .

XLVIII. Dryopte ris fe licis similis in arboribus

nascitur , tenu i foliorum subdulcium incisura , radicehirsuta . vis e i caustica e st , ideo e t psilotrum est

radix tusa , inlinitur enim usque dum sudore s e v oce t

iterum e t tertium ita ne sudor abluatur.

XLIX . Drabe phono 1 simi l is herba est cauliculis

t enuibus cubitalibus , circumdat is utrimque foliis

pollicari amplitudine qualia oxymyrsines , sed candidioribus mollioribusque , flore candido sabuci. edunt

cauliculos decoctcs , semine ve ro e ius pro pipere

utuntur.

L. Elatine folia habe t casiae ,

2 pusil la , pilosa ,

rotunda , semipedalibus ramu lis quinis senisque a

radice statim foliosis . nascitur in segete , acerba

gustu e t ideo oculorum flucticnibus e fficax foliis cum

polenta tritis et inposit is , subdito lint eolo . eadem

1 drabe phono Detlefsen coll . indice Pl . et XXI 595drae ff ono VRE dr aphono d dryophonon Caesarius .

2casiae codd . helxinae e Dioscoride Hermolau s Barbarus .

BOOK XXVII. XLVII. 7I—L. 74

XLVII. Dipsacos has leaves like those of le ttuce , Dipsamwith prickly knobs on the middle of the ir backs .The stem, tw o cubits long and rough w ith the same

prickle s , has joints enfolded by pairs of leave s ,forming hollow axils in which col le cts a salt , dewyfluid . On the top of the stem are little he ads , whichbristle with prickle s . The plant grows on wateryground . A de coction of the root in wine heals chapsof the anus ; fistulas as we l l , but the decoction mustbe reduced to the consistency of w ax , so that a

suppository may be inserted into the fistula . It a lsoremove s warts of all kinds , for which purpose some

apply the juice that is found in the axils which Imentioned above .

XLVIII. Dryopteris , which is like fem , grows on Dryopt

tree s ; it has swe e tish leave s with a slight indentationand a hairy root . It has caustic properties , so that itscrushed root is also used as a depilatory , for it isrubbed on until the skin swe ats , and then again and

a third time without washing the sweat away .

“

XLIX . Drabe is a similar plant to phonos , w ith Drabe.

S lender stalks a cubit high surrounded on e ither sideby leave s the size of a thumb , simi lar to those of

oxymyrsine , but whiter and softer . The blossom iswhite and l ike that of the e lder . The stalks are e atenboi led , but its seed is used instead of pepper.

L. Elatine has leave s like those of cassia , very Elatirze

small , shaggy and round , with fiv e or six l ittlebranche s , half a foot long , which are covered withleave s right from the root . The plant grows amongthe corn , is harsh to the taste and there fore good forfluxes of the eye s the leave s are pounded with pearlbarley and applied , a napkin be ing placed under

Or, so that the sweating may not be interrupted .


cum l in i semine cocta sorbitionis usu dysinteria

liberat .

LI. Empe tros , quam nostri calcifi agam vocant ,

nascitur in montibus marit imis , fere in saxo. quae

propius mari fuit salsa est potaque trahit bilem ac

pituitas , quae longius magisque terrena amarior

sent itur . trahit aquam , sumitur autem in iurealiquo aut in hydrome lite , v e tustat e vire s perdit ,recens urinas cie t decoctum in aqua v e l tritum

calculosque frangi t . qui fidem promisso huic quaerunt , adfirmant lapillos qui subferv efiant una rumpi .LII. Epicactis ab a lii s e l leborine v ocatur , parva

herba , exiguis foliis , iocineris v itiis uti l issima e t contravenema pota .

LIII. Epimedion cau l is e st non magnus hederaefoliis denis atque duodenis , numquam florens , radicetenui , n igra , gravi odore ac

1 in umidis nascitur.

e t huic spissandi re frigerandique natura , feminis

cav enda . folia in vino trita virginum mamma scohibent .

LIV. Enne aphyllon longa fol ia novena habe tcausticae naturae . inponitur lana circumdatum ne

urat lat ius , continuo en im pusulas excitat , lumborumdoloribus et coxendicum utilissimum .

LV. Filie is duo genera . n ec florem habent nec

semen . pt erim v ocant Graeci , alii blachnon , cuius ex

1ac VdT : hac R : om. E S illig, Detkf sen : lacunam

indica t M ayh0ff e DiOSC. IV 19 (p'

ija z yev aapéw y pw pa i) .

Littré entre deux linges .

Littré prise en potage .

”

Of dropsy ?This seems to be the force of atque, Dioscorides has

only if.

43 4


una radice conplures exeunt filices bina e tiam cubitaexcedente s longitudine , non graves odore . hancmarem existirnant . a lterum genus the lypt erim

Graeci v ocant , alii nymphaeam pterim, est autemsingularis atque non fruticosa , brev ior molliorque et

densior , foliis ad radicem canaliculata . utriusqueradice sue s pinguescunt , fol ia utriusque lat eribus

pinnata , unde nomen Graeci inposuere . radice sutriusque longae in oblicum ,

n igrae , praecipue cum

inaruere . siccari autem eas sole oporte t . nascuntur

ubique , sed maxime frigido solo . e ffodi debent

v ergiliis occident ibus . usus radicis in trimatu tan

tum , neque ante nec postea . pe llunt interaneorum

an imal ia , ex his taenias cum me lle , cete ra ex vinodulci triduo potae , utraque stomacho inut ilissima :

alvum solv it primo bilem trabens , mcx aquam , me liustaen ias cum scamonii pari pondere . radix

“

e iuspondere duum obolorum ex aqua post un ius diciabstinentiam bibitur , me lle praegustato, contrarheumat ismos . neutra danda mulieribus , quoniam

grav idis abortum , ce teris st erilitatem facit . farinacarum ulceribus taetris inspergitur , iumentorum quo

que in cerv icibus . fol ia cimicem necant , serpentemnon recipiunt , ideo subst erni uti le est in locis sus

pectis , usta e tiam fugant nidore . fecere medici

Dioscorides (IV 184 ) has 15770 5v0 c68n, rather rank.

The Greek w r epo’

v means feather.

”

Both Detlefsen and Mayhoff omit the comma after

praegustato. To do so improv es the run of the sentence

taking honey beforehand to prev ent fluxes.

”But it leav es

unmentioned the ailment for which this particular treatment

BOOK XXVII. LV . 78—80

other ferns exce eding even tw o cubits in length ,with a not unpleasant sme l l “ This is consideredmale . The other kind the Greeks cal l the lypteris ,some nymphaea pteris .

_It has only one stem, and

is not bushy , but shorter , softer and more compactthan the other , and channe lled with leave s at the

root . The root of both kinds fattens pigs . In

both kinds the leave s are pinnate on e ither side ,whence the Gre eks have named them pteris .

”

The roots of both are long , slanting , and blackish ,e special ly when they have lost moi sture they should ,however , be dried in the sun . Ferns grow eve rywhere , but e special ly in a cold soil . They ought tobe dug up at the se tting of the Ple iade s . The rootmust be used on ly at the end of three years , ne itherearlier nor later. Ferns expe l inte stinal worms , tapeworms when taken with honey , but for other wormsthey must be taken in sweet wine on three consecutivedays ; both kinds are very 1njurlous to the stomach .

Fern opens the bowe ls , bringing away first. bile ,

then fluid , tapeworms be tter with an equal we ight ofscammony . To treat catarrhal fluxes tw o obol i bywe ight of the root are taken in water after fastingfor one day , with a taste of honey be forehand .

“

Ne ither fem should be given to women , since e ithe rcause s a mi

’

scarriage when they are pregnant , andbarrenne ss when they are not . Reduced to powderthey are sprinkled Over foul ulcers as wel l as on the

necks of draught animal s . The le ave s kill lice and willnot harbour snakes , so that it is we l l to Spread them in

suspected place s ; by the sme l l too when burnt theydrive away these creatures . Among . ferus also

w as a remedy ; it is naturally , in spite of the order of words ,rheu

'

ma tismi .

43 7


huius quoque herbae discrimen , optima M acedonicaest , se cunda Cassiopica .

LVI. Femur bubulum appe llatur herba nervis e t

ipsa utilis recens in ace to ac sale trita .

LVII. Galeopsis aut , ut al ii , galeobdolon v e l galioncaulem e t folia habet urt icae lev iora e t quae gravemodorem tr ita reddant , flore purpureo. nascitur circasaepes ac semitas ubique . fol ia caulesque durit ias et

carcinomata sanant ex ace to trita e t inposita , itemstrumas , panos , parotidas discut iunt . ex usu est

e t decoctae succ fcv ere . putrescent ia quoque et

gangraenas sanat cum sale .

LVIII. Glaux ant iquitus eugalacton v ocabatur ,

cytiso e t lenticulae foliis s im ilis ; aversa candidiora .

rami in t erram serpunt quini sen i admodum tenue s aradice . flosculi purpure i e xeunt .

1 inv enitur iuxta

mare . coquitur in sorbit ione simi laginis ad cxcitandam ubert at em lactis . e am qui

2 hauserint baline is

ut i conv eni t .

LIX. Glaucion in Syria et Parthia nascitur , hum il isherba densis foli is fere papav eris , minoribus tamen

sordidioribusque , odoris taetri, gustus amari cumadstrict ione . granum habet croce i coloris . hoc in

ol la fictili luto circumlita in clibanis calfaciunt , de indeexempto sucum exprimunt e iusdem nomini s . ususe t suoi et foliorum , si t erantur , adversus epiphoras

1exeunt] Ut Mayhofi hic distinguo .

2qui codd. , Detlef sen, M ayhofl

‘

quae vet. Dal. , S illig : MayÌwjf coni . cumque .

A town in Corcyra .

Et ipsa might mean ev en by itself ,”

w ithout furtheraddition .

”The translation takes it to be itself also.

Note this meaning of ex usu est. See XXV 5 175.

The qui is strange , and may be an early mistake for quae.


quae universo impetu cadant . hin c temperaturcol lyrium quod medici dia glauciu v ocant . lactisquoque ubertas int ermissa rest ituitur . sum itur

huius rei causa ex aqua .

LX. Glycyside , quam aliqui paeoniam aut pentoro

bon v ocant , caulem habet duum palmorum ,

1 comitant ibus duobus aut tribus , subrut

i

lum , cute lauri ,folia qualia isatis , pinguiora rotundioraque et minora ,semen in siliquis , a liud grano rubente , a liud n igro.

duo autem genera sun t : femina _exist imatur cu ius

radicibus ceu balani longiores circiter c eto aut sex

adhaerent . mas plures non habe t , quoniam una

radice nixus est palmi altitudine , candida , quae

gustu adstringit . feminae folia murram redolent e t

densiora_sunt . nascuntur in silvis . tradunt nocte

e ffodiendas , quoniam int erdiu periculosum sit picoMartio impetum in oculos facient e ; radix vero cum

e ffodiatur , periculum e sse ne sede s procidat , magnavanitate ad ost entationem re i fictum arbitror. ususin his diversus . rubra grana rubent es mens e s sistuntxv fere pota in fi no nigro. n igra grana v ulv is

medentur.ex pas so aut v ino totidem pota . radix

omn es ventri s dolores sedat in vino alvum que purgat ,sanat opisthotonum , morbum regium , rene s , v esicam ,

art eriam autem e t stomachum decocta in v ino,alv umque sistit . e stur e tiam in alimentis ,

2sed in

1palmorum plerique codd . (sic Dioscorides) , M ayhofi cubi

torum Er, vulg. , Detlef sen .

2 in alimentis Ianus, lll ayhoff , cod. M urbacensis : contra

malum mentis RE vulg . , Detkf sen .

Some old editions hav e universae uno impetu cadunt, a ll

together, at one rush .

The Greek Stò. yÀaw a’

ov , made from glaucion.

See Book X 540 .

BOOK XXVII. LIX. 83,—LX. 86

fluxes that fal l in streams from the whole eye .

“

There is made from it a salve cal led by physiciansdiaglauciu.

“ It a lso re store s a rich supply of milk ifthis fails . When taken for this purpose , water is themedium.

LX. Glycyside , cal led by some paeon ia or pentoro

bon , has a stem tw o spans high ; tw o or thre e others

go with it . This stem is reddish , with bark like thatof bay ; the le ave s re semble those of isatis , on lymore fle sby , rounder , and smal ler . The se ed is in

pods , with some grains red, some black . There are

however tw o kinds of the plant . The one to the rootsof which are attached about six or e ight rather longbulbs like acorns is regarded as female . The male hasno more bu lbs , since it is supported only by a singleroot , a span de ep , white , and astringent to the taste .

The leave s of the female sme l l of myrrh , and are closertoge ther . The plants grow in woods . It is said thatthey shou ld be dug up by night , be cause to do so in

the daytime is dangerous , for the woodpecker cal ledbird -c f M ars assaults the eyes . That there is a

danger , however , of prolapsus of the anus when a

root is be ing dug up,I hold to be a very fraudulent

lie , calcu lated to exaggerate the real facts . The seplants are of man ifold use . The red grains check red

menstrual discharge , about fifte en be ing taken in

dark - red w ine . The black grains are healing to theuterus , the same number be ing taken in raisin or

ordinary wine . The root in wine re lieve s all pains ofthe be l ly , opens the bowe ls , cure s opisthoton icte tanus , j aundice , and complaints of the kidneys andbladder ; for the trachea and the stomach however a

decoction in wine is used , which also acts astringentlyon the bowe ls . It is eaten too as a food , but as a

G'lycysi


medendo quattuor drachm ae satis sunt . grana nigraauxiliantur e t suppressionibus nocturnis in vino pota

quo dictum est numero, stomachicis vero e t rosionibus

e t e sse eam e t inlinere prodest . suppurationes quo

que discut iuntur , re cente s nigro semine , v eteres

rubro. utrumque auxiliatur a serpente percussis et

pueris contra calculos incipiente 1 stranguria .

LXI. Gnaphalium aliqui chamaez elon vocant ,

cuius foliis a lbis mollibusque pro tomento utuntur,

sane e t simi lia sunt . datur in vino austero ad

dysinteriam , ventris solutiones mensesque mulierumsistit . infunditur autem tene smo. inlinitur et

putrescentibus ulcerum .

LXII. Gallidragam voca t Xenocrates leucacanthosimi lem , palustrem e t spinosam , caule ferulaceo alto ,

cui summo capite inhaereat simi le ov o . in hoc

cre scente aestat e v ermiculos nasci tradi t quos pyxideconditos adalligari cum pane bracchio ab ea parte

qua deus doleat , mireque ilico dolorem tolli . valerenon diutius anno et ita si t erram non adtigerint .

LXIII. Holcus in saxis nascitur siccis . aristashabet in cacumine , tenui culmo, quale hordeumrestibile . haec circa caput a l ligata v e l circa lacertumeducit e corpore aristas . quidam ob id aristidav ocant .

LXIV . Hyoseris intubo simi lis , sed minor et tactuasperior, v olneribus contusa praeclare medetur.

1 incipiente codd . incipiente s M aghoff, qui conf eri Die se.

III 140 dpxds Àz9m'

a € w g WGpG LTOÙW GL.

The emendation of Mayhoff , though easy and ingenious ,is not necessary, for the passage in Dioscorides is rather

v ague and makes no ment ion of strangury .

44 2


LXV. Holosteon sine duritia est herba ex adversoappe l lata a Graecis , sicut fe l dulce , radice tenu i 1

usque in capillament i speciem , longitudine quattuordigitorum , ceu gramen foliis angustis , adstringens

gustu . nascitur in collibus terrenis. usus e ius ad

vulsa , rupta in vino potae . e t v olnera quoqueconglutinat , nam e t carne s , dum coquuntur, addita .

LXVI. Hippophaeston nascitur in spinis ex quibusfiunt aenae fulloniae , sine cauliculo , sine flore ,

capitulis tantum inanibus et foliis parvis multis ,herbace i coloris , radiculas habens 2 albas , mol le s .

sucus carum exprimitur aestat e ad solv endam alvum

tribus obolis , maxime in comitialibus morbis e t tre

mul is , hydr0picis , contra vertigine s , orthopnoeas ,paralysis incipiente s .LXVII. Hypoglossa folia habet figura silv estris

myrti , concava ,

3 spinosa et in his ceu linguas foliaparva exeuntia e

‘1 foliis . capitis dolore s corona ex

his inposita minu it .LXVIII. Hypeccon in segetibus nascitur folus

rutas . natura e ius e adem quae papav eris succ .

1radice tenui ego, qu i Hermola i Barbari tenui radice incerto

radi ce tenuis M ayhoff tenuis codd Detlef sen. Dioscorides

(IV Il ) ;il{a.v Bè cgbo'

8pa Àerrn)v cbs rpixa .

habens vulg. Detlef sen : om. codd . radiculae albaeMayhofi .

concav a codd. , vulg. : coma e Dioscoride Mayhoff , quietiam comantia

'

coni .4 folia parv a exeuntia e foliis coni. Mayhofl folio parv o

exeunte de foliis codd. , Detlefsen, Mayhoff in textu .

A strange phrase , which should mean : grows amongetc.

The sense is the same whi chever reading is adopted .

BOOK XXVII. LXV . 9 1—LXVIII. 93

LXV. Holosteon (all- bone) is a plant with nothing Holoste

hard about it , the name be ing an antiphrasis coinedby the Gre eks , just as they ca ll gal l swee t . Its rootis so S lender as to look like ha ir . Four fingers long ,the plant has narrow leave s l ike grass and an astrin

gent taste , growing on hills with de ep soi l . Taken inw ine for sprains and rupture s it also close s wounds ,for it even fastens together piece s of meat whenboi led with them.

LXVI. Hippophaeston is to be found among the H

g??thorn's out of which fullers ’ pots are made up, having

es i

no stem , no blossom , but on ly little , hol low heads andmany smal l le ave s of the colour of grass . Its littleroots are whitish and soft .

“ The ir juice is extracted insummer ; the dose to open the bowe ls is three oboli ,be ing used e spe cial ly in epilepsy , palsy , dropsy , andto tre at giddine ss , orthopnoea , and incipient paralysis.LXVII. Hypoglossa has leave s shaped like those of Hypogl

w ild myrtle , concave , prickly , and on them as itwere tongue s , smal l leave s growing out of the leave sproper. A chaplet made from the se and placed on

the head re lieve s headache .

“

LXVIII. Hypecoò n grows in cornfie lds and has Hypeco

leave s l ike those of rue . Its propertie s are those of

poppy juice .

Dioscorides has (IV 6ap.v iox0 5 e’

ar ì p.vpolvyKa i. Àerrrr; exa m rà q$vr\Àa cuoca , «cam» 5% dxa v9w 8n Ka i 6 17

axpov oic v€ ì yz\w rr i8a s, w apa<fivoa g p.i xpdg‘

rrapò. roîg

Sok ei 3 è “

Ij xop.r; w epiap.,ua eivac xpr;ocp.ov Keda /\a llyovcn . The

reason w hy Mayhoff emended conca va to coma is clear, butthe Greek and the Latin , although v ery alike , hav e some

di ff erences, the greatest perhaps being Pliny’

s corona wherethe Greek has xo

’

,un. The Latin corna ,

and also are

di ffi cult words , and there is no English word that will serv eas a translation on ev ery occasion . Some remarks on themWill be found on pp. 482—483 .


LXIX . Idaeae herbae folia sunt quae oxymyrsines .

adhaerent iis ve lut pampini , in qu ibus flos . ipsaalvum mensesque e t omnem abundantiam sanguin issistit . spissandi cohibendique naturam habet.

1

LXX. Isopyron aliqui phase lion v ocant , quon iamfolium quod est aneso simi le in passeoli pampinos

torque tur. capitula sunt in summo caule tenuia ,

plena seminis me lanthi, contra tussim et ceterape ctoris vitia cum me l le aut aqua mulsa , item iocineri

utilissima .

2

LXXI. Lathyris folia habet mu lta lactucae similia ,

t enuiora , germina multa , in quibus semen tuniculis

continetur ut capparis , quae cum inaruere , eximuntur

grana piperis magnitudine , candida , dulcia , facilia

purgatu . haec v icena in aqua pura aut mulsa potahydropicos sanant . trahunt et bilem. qui v ehe

ment ius purgari volunt cum folliculis ipsis s11munt

e a , nam stomachum laedunt , itaque inv entum est

ut cum pisce aut iure gal linace i sumerentur.

LXXII. Leontopetalon ali i rapadion v ocant , foliobrassicae , caule semipedali. alae plures ,

3 semen in

1 habet vulg. Mayhofi emenda t : sanguinis sistit spissandi

cohibendique natura .

2util issima d( vulg. , Detlefsen : utihss1mo VEE : utilis

simi M ayhoff .3plures S illig : mirae Detlefsen : numerosae Mayhojf :

h ures E nure VR.

Or, w ithout addition .

Or, styptic.

”


cacumine in siliquis ciceri s modo, radix rapo 1

simi lis , grandis , n igra . nascitur in arv is . radixadv ersatur omn ibus 2 serpent ium generibus ex vinopota , nec alia res ce lerius proficit . datur et ischiadicis .

LXXIII. Lycapsos longioribus quam lactucae foliiscrassioribusque , caule longo, hirsutis

3adgnat ismultis ,

cubitalibus , flore parvo, purpureo . nascitur in

campestribus . inlinitur cum farina hordeace a ignisacro, sudores in febribus mov et succ aquae calidae

admixto .

LXXIV . Inter omne s herbas lithospermc n ihil estmirabilius . aliqui exonychon v ocant , a li i Dios pyron ,

alii Heracleus . herba quincuncialis fere , foliis duplomaioribus quam rutae , ramulis surculosis , crassitudine

immei . gerit iuxta folia singulas v e luti barbu las et

in carum cacuminibus lapillos candore et rotunditat e

margaritarum, magnitudine ciceris , duritia verolapidea . ipsi qua pediculis adhaereant cav ernulas

habent et intus semen . nascitur e t in Italia , sed

laudatissimum in Creta , nec quicquam inter herbasmaiore equidem mi raculo aspexi . tantus est decorve lut aurificum arte alternis inter folia candicant ibus

margaritis , tam exqu is ita difficultas lapidis ex herbanascentis . iacere atque humi serpere auctorestradunt ; ego v olsam , non haerent em vidi . his

1rapo r Gelenius , M ayhoyff rapa E : napo a liquot codd . ,

Detlef sen .

2omnibus Mayhofi omnium codd. , Detlef sen . Ego coni.

omnium serpentium ictibus .

caule longo, hirsutis ego caulem longum hirsutum habet

Detlefsen cauli longo hirsutis M ayhojj’

caulem longum hir

sutis codd .

Dioscorides (III paaxciÀa5‘

rrÀa'

o-

ras div a'

xpw v

ÀoBoì Sporca e’

pefiiv9m5‘

. Hence my rendering of alae .

448

BOOK XXVII. LXXII. 96—LXXIV. 99

ends , in pods like those of chick- peas ,“ i s the seed .

The root is l ike a turn ip , large and blackish . It growson cu ltivated ground . Taken in wine the rootneutralise s the poison of serpents of every kind ,“

and no other remedy acts more quickly . It is alsogiven to suff erers from sciatica .

LXXIII. Lycapsos has longer and coarser leave s Lycapsthan those of lettuce , a long stem , with many sub

sidiary others , hairy and a cubit long , and a smal l ,purple flower. It grows in flat , meadowy land .

With barley me al it make s a local application for

erysipe las . The juice with hot water added promotesperspiration in fevers .

LXXIV . Among al] plants nothing is more wonder Litho

ful than l ithospermum , called by some exonychon ,

“’em “

by others Juppiter’

s corn ,

”

and by '

others corn of

Hercule s . The plant is about fiv e inche s high , withleave s tw ice as big as those of rue , and ligneous l ittlebranche s of the thickne ss of a rush . Near the

leave s it grows as it were little beards , which are

single , and on the ir tops l ittle stone s , white and roundas pearls , as big as a chick—pea but as hard as a stone .

Where they are attached to pedice l s the se j ewe lshave little hole s , in which is the se ed . The plantgrows indeed in Italy , but the most highly valued inCrete , and I have never seen anything among plantsthat fil led me with greater wonder . So charming theadornment that one might think that the j ewe l ler ’

3

art had arranged gleaming white pearls symmetrical lyamong the leave s so e legantly solved IS the problemof causing a gem to grow from a plant ! The authoritie ssay that it lie s and spreads over the ground ; I havese en it only when gathered , not when so growing . It is

My conjecture : of the bites of all serpents.

VOL. VII.


lapillis drachmae pondere potis in vino albo calculcs

frangi pellique constat e t stranguriam discuti .neque in al ia herbarum fide s est certior ,

1ad quam

medicinam nata sit , est autem 2e ius species ut e tiam

sine auctore Visu statim nosci possit .

100 LXXV . Lapis vulgari s iuxta flumina fert muscumsiccum , canum . hic fricatur a ltero lapide additahominis sal iva , i l lo lapide tangitur inpetigo. qui

tangit dicitI I f“

<fievyer e KG V6GPLOGS‘

, Auxos ayprog aqua Saw /<a .

101 LXXVI. Limeum herba appe llatur a Gal lis quasagittas in v enatu t ingunt medicamento, quodvenenum cervarium vocant . ex hac in tre s modios

sal ivati additur quantum in unam sagittam addì solet ,ita offa demittitur boum faucibus in morbis . alligari

postea ad praesepia oportet , dcnec purgentur

insanire enim solent— si sudor insequitur , aquafrigida perfundi.

102 LXXVII. Leuce mercurialis 3 simi lis nomen ex

causa accepit , per medium folium candida lineatranscurrente , quare mesoleucion quidam v ocant .

sucus e ius fistulas sanat , ipsa contrita carcinomata .

fortassis eadem sit quae leucas appe llatur, contramarina omn ia v enena eflicax. speciem e ius auctore s

1certior M ayhoff acqua Detlefsen v isu statim codd .

2est autem vulg. , Detlef sen talis autem M ayhojj

’: autem

VEE .

3 Mercurialis codd Ianus, Detlefsen : Mercuriali vulgMayhoff .

For cantheris see Book XVIII 152 .

Mayhofi'

thinks that tritici, or some such word,18 under

stood with salivati. But this is not necessary .


non tradunt , nec a liud quam silv estrem lat ioribus

foliis e sse , e fficaciorem hanc 1 semine acriore .

103 LXXVIII. Leucographis qualis e sse t scriptum non

repperi , quod eo magis miror , quoniam util is proditursanguinem excre ant ibus tribus obolis cum croco ,

item coe liacis , trita ex aqua e t adposita profluv io

feminarum , oculorum quoque medicamentis et ex

plendis ulceribus quae fiant in t eneris partibus .104 LXXIX . M edion folia habet seridis 2 sativae , caulem

tripedalem e t in co florem grandem, purpureum,

rotundum , semine minuto , radicem semipedalem .

in saxis opacis nascitur. radix drachmis duabus cumme lle menses feminarum sistit ecligmat e per aliquotdie s sumpto. semen quoque in vino contra abundantiam feminarum datur .

105 LXXX . Myosota sive myosotis , levis herba caulibuspluribus ab una radice , aliquat enus rubentibus , con

cav is , ab imo foliis augustis , oblongis , dorso acuto,

n igri s , per interval la adsidue geminatis , t enuibus

cauliculis ex al is prodeuntibus , flore caeruleo . radixdigitali crassitudine multis capillamentis fimbriata .

vis e i i septica'

i'

e t exulceratrix , ideoque aegilopas

1 hanc codd M ayhofl ac Urlichs, Detlefsen.

2seridis e Diosc. (IV 18) Hermolaus Barbara s, Detlef sen

iridis lll ayhcff hiridi s E .

septica codd. : ego smectica coni. : caustica coll. 5112Warmington.

With Mayhoff’

s reading, iris .

Dioscorides on the contrary says (IV d'

ya

Mayhoff for levis suggests tenuis, slender.

”

Mayhoff punctuates conca vis ab imo, and suggests that

ab imo should be transposed to come after rubentibus .

Littré translates this puz z ling sentence thus La

qualité de cette racine est septique et exulcérante ; ainsiguérit—elle aegilops .

”But how can a septic and ulcerating

application cure a lacrima] fistula ? Something or other must

452

BOOK XXVII. LXXVII. 1 0 2—LXXX. 1 0 5

only say that the wild plant has the broader leave s ,that this is the more e fficacious , and has the more

pungent se ed .

LXXVIII. A de scription of leucographis I havenowhere found in writing . I am the more surprisedat this because in thre e—obol i dose s with saffron it isconsidered useful for haemoptysis , and a lso for thecoe l iac disease ; beaten up in water and applied as a

pe ssary for exce ssive menstruation ; use ful too as

an ingredient of eye salves , and for fil ling up ulcersthat form cn tender parts of the body .

LXXIX . M edion has leave s like those of cu ltivatedseris the stem is thre e fe e t long , on which is a

large , purple , round flower , bearing tiny se eds ; theroot is half a foot long . The plant grows on shadedrocks . The root checks e xce ssive menstruation ,

tw o—drachma dose s , with honey , be ing taken in the

form of an e lectuary for a few succe ssive days . For

the same purpose the seed too is given in w ine .

“

LXXX . Myosota or myosotis is a smooth plantwith several stems growing from one root , the se be ingred to a certain extent and hollow ; narrow leave s growat the bottom ,

“ longish , w ith a spine a long the back ,

dark , care ful ly arranged in pairs at regular intervals .

There are S lender stalks growing from the axils , andthe blossom is blue . The -

root , of the thickne ss of afinger , is fringed with many filaments like hairs .It has Tseptic and ulceratingi

‘ propertie s ,“ and so

be wrong . Unfortunate Dioscorides (II 183 ) is of no helphere , for although he mentions the cure , he says nothing about

the properties of the root 1) ;iiCa. Kara n /\a odeîaa a iyu\céma

LGTG.C.

I suggest that ex ulceratrix means, not ulcerating, but

clearing away ulcers , ” just as exulcerare corpus in XXIII

522 means free the flesh from sores .

”Cf . tussim exasperant

Leuco

graphis.

M edion

Myosotc


sanat . tradunt Aegypti , mensis quem Thoti v ocantdie XXVIII fere in Augustum mensem incurrente siqu is huius herbae succ inungatur mane priusquam

loquatur , non lippiturum cc anno .

106 LXXXI. Myagros herba ferulacea est folus similisrubiae , tripedania . semen oleosum, quod e t fit ex

eo. medetur cris ulceribus perunctis hoc succ .

LXXXII. Herba quae vocatur nyma , tribus foluslongis intubaceis , inlita cicatrice s ad colorem reducit .

107 LXXXIII. Natrix v ocatur herba cu ius radix evulsavirus hirci redole t . hac in P iceno feminis abigunt

quos mira persuasione Fatuos v ocant , ego specie slymphantium hoc modo animorum e sse crediderim

quae tal i medicamento inventur .

108 LXXXIV . Odontitis inter feni genera est , cauliculis densis ab eadem radice , geniculatis , triangulis ,nigris . in geniculis folia parva habet , longiora tamen

quam polygonum , semen in alis hordeo simile , florem

(XXIII 597 takes away roughn ess from a cough . Then

septica may be a mistake , either of Pliny or of a scribe , forsmectica . In XXX 529 septica is actually found as a variantof the correct reading smectica (vi) . The translation wouldthen be the root is cleansing, and clears away sores, and

so it heals lacrima!fistulas .

”So also exulcerat in 5112 .

An old reading stiptica styptica , stypt ic ismentionedby Dalecamp, and may be right . At any rat e it shows thatthe passage puz z led the old commentators . As Detlefsen and

Mayhoff agree—in their text , and as Littré raises no doubts , I

hav e le ft text and translation w i thin daggers.

Professor Andrews thinks that the text is correct , referringto the drastic treatment of eye - fistulas in early times.

I.e . , for the next twelve months .

109

110

111


purpureum , pusil lum. nas citur in pratis . decoctumcauliculorum e ius in vino austero quantum manuscapiat dentium dolori medetur ita ut cont ineatur ore .

LXXXV . Othonna in Syria nascitur, simi l is erucae ,perforatis crebro foliis , flore croci ,1 quare quidamanemonem vocav erunt . suons e ius oculorum medicamentis ccnv enit . mordet en im leniter et calfacit

adstringitque siccando purgat cicatrice s e t nubeculase t quicquid Obste t . quidam tradunt lavari atque itasiccatam digeri in pastil los .

LXXXVI. Onosma longa folia habet fere ad tre sdigitos , in te rra iacentia , ad similitudinem anchusae ,

2

sine caule , sine flore , sine semine . praegnas , si editeam aut supergradiatur , abortum facere dicitur.

LXXXVII. Onopradon si ecmederunt , asini crepitus reddere dicuntur. trahit urinas e t mense s , alvumsistit , suppurationes e t collectiones discutit .

LXXXVIII. Osyris ramulos fert n igros , tenues ,lentos , e t in his folia n igra ceu l ini semenque in

ramulis nigrum initio , de in colore mutato rube scens .

smegmata mulieribus faciunt ex his . radicum de

coctum potu sanat arquatos . eaedem priusquam

maturescat semen concisae e t sole siecatae alvum

sistunt . post maturitat em vero collectae e t in sorbitione decoctae rheumat ismis ventris medentur e t per

se tritae ex aqua cae lesti bibuntur .

1croci e Dioscoridae vu lg cocci VRdf Detlefsen .

2 Post anchusae in codd . incisis (VdE ) aut incissis (R)incisa vulg. ego delevi (ex anchusae ortum anchusae

similis siv e caule , siv e flore , siv e semine . Mayhojff.

BOOK XXVII. LXXXIV. 1 0 8- LXXXVIII. I I I

grows in meadows . A decoction of its stalks , a handful in a dry wine , is a cure for toothache , but it mustbe kept in the mouth .

LXXXV . Othonna grows in Syria . It is likeeruca , has leave s ful l of holes and a saffron flower.

This is why some have called it anemone . Its juiceis a suitable ingredient of eye salves , for it is s lightlybiting , warming , and astringent , because of its dryingnature ; it clears away scars , films and all obstruetions . Some say that it is washed , and then , afterdrying , worked up into lozenge s .

LXXXVI. Onosma has long le ave s up to aboutthree fingers in length , lying on the ground like thoseof anchusa . It has no stem , no blossom and no seed .

“

If a woman with child shou ld eat it or step over it , sheis said to miscarry .

LXXXVII. Asses are said , if they have e atenonopradon , to break w ind . It is diure tic and an

emmenagogue , che cks loosene ss of the bowe ls , and

disperses suppurations and gatherings .

LXXXVIII. Osyris bears dark twigs , S lender and

pliant , on which are dark leave s like those of flax .

The se ed on the twigs is black to begin with , and

then the colour change s to red . From them are

made cosme tics for women . A de coction of the rootstaken by the mouth cure s j aundice . These rootsalso , if cut off be fore the se ed ripens and dried in thesun , che ck loosene ss of the bowe ls ; but , if dug upafter the ripening and boiled down in grue l , they are

good treatment for catarrhs of the be lly , and by themse lve s they are beaten up and taken in rain water .

Dioscorides III 13 1 : 6 71i yr'

js Kar eorpw pe'

va epqSepe'

ar ar a.

rfis dyxo1îmys‘

. ecm Bè axavÀog «a i a xaprros Ka i dva v91js. SO

there is no need to alter, with Mayhoff , sine to sive.

Othonn

Onosrm

On0pra

Osyris.

112

113

114


LXXXIX . Oxys folia terna habet . datur ad

stomachum dissolutum . edunt et qui enterece len

habent .

XC . Polyanthemum , quam quidam batrachion

appe l lant , caustica v i exulcerat cicatrices et ad

colorem reducit , e ademque vitiligine s eoncorporat .

XCI. Polygonum Graeci v ocant quam nos san

guinariam. non attollitur a terra , foliis rutae ,

simi lis graminis . sucus e ius infusus naribus sup

primit sanguinem e t potus cum vi no cuiuslibet partis

profluv ium excreationesque cruentas inhibet . qui

plura genera polygoni faciunt hanc marem intellegi

v olunt appellarique a mu ltitudine seminis aut densitate frut icis , ali i polygonaton a frequentia geni enlorum , al ii thalatt iada , alii carcinothron , alii e lema ,

multi myrtopetalum . nec non inv eniuntur qui hancfeminam e sse dicant , marem autem maiorem minus

que nigram e t geniculis dens iorem , semine sub

omnibus foliis turgescentem .

1quoeumque haec

modo se habent , vi s carum est spissare ac re frigerare .

semine alvum solvunt , largius sumpto urinam cient ,rheumat ismos cohibent , qui s i non fuere , non prosunt .

stomachi fervori folia inponuntur , vesicae doloriinlinuntur e t ignibus saeris . sucus et auribus purulentis instillatur et oculorum dolori . per se dabatur

1 turgescentem codd . , vulg. , Detlefsen : turgescente M ayhofiDal . secutus .

The Delphin editor say s reddit reliqua corporiparem. On

exulcerat see page 453 , note .

Mayhoff suggests that similis graminis should come af ter

terra resembles gras s in not rising from the ground.

”

The name means hav ing much seed .

”

Or , brace .

”Dioscorides IV 4 : 5v'vay.w SèExe; or vrrrmr

‘

;v

Ka i gbw cn mjv .

458


et in febribus ante accessiones duebus cyathi s in

t ertianis quartanisque praecipue , item cholericis ,115 dysintericis e t in solut ione stomachi . tertium genus

orion v ocant in mont ibus nascens , harundini t eneraesimi le , uno caule , densis geniculis e t in se infarctis ,foliis autem pice ae , radicis superv acuae , inefficaOius

116 quam superiora , pe culiare ischiadicis . quartum genussi lve stre appe llatur , paeme arboris modo frutex ,radice lignosa , stirpe cedri rubicunda , rami s spartibinum palmorum , nigris geniculorum tern is quaternisque art iculis . huic quoque spissandi natura ,

sapor mal i cotone i. deeoquitur in aqua ad tertias autaridi farina inspergitur e t oris ulceribus e t adtritis

partibus . propter gingivarum vero vitia ipsa com

117 manducatur. nomas sist it omniaque quae serpunt

aut diflicilem cicatricem habent , privatim vero sanat an ive facta ulcera . herbarii e t ad anginas utuntur i llae t in capitis dolore coronam ex ea inponunt et contraepiphoras col lo circumdant . in t ertianis quidam 1

sinistra manu evulsam adalligant , adeo contra profluv ia sanguini s , nec ullam magis aridam quam poly

gonum servant .118 XCII. Pancratium aliqui scillam pusillam appe llarema lunt , foliis albi lilii longi oribus crassioribusque,radice bulbi magni , colore rufo. alvum solv it succ

cum farina ervi sumpto, ulcera purgat . hydropicis ,

Splenicis cum me l le datur. a l ii decocunt eam donec

1quidamcodd. multi quidem V vulg. , Mayhoff.

Dioscorides IV 5 7 6vaxr a. av vexfi è'

xov e’

yxeipeva

«Z orrep ociÀw iyyos .

Or only.

”

Possibly, bracingOr, w ith quidem, indeed.

BOOK XXVII. XCI. 1 14—XCII. 1 18

dose s of tw o cyathi , be fore the paroxysms of ague s ,e special ly tertian and quartan , also for cholera ,

- dysen

tery and a re laxed stomach . The third kind , cal ledorion , grows on mountains and is like a tender reed .

It has one stem with knots close together and fittedone into another ,“ leave s re sembling those of the

pitch pine , and a root of nc medicinal use . This kindis le ss e fficacious than those already mentioned , andused especial ly for sciatica . The fourth kind iscal led wild polygonum , a shrub that is almost a tree ;it has a l igneous root , a red trunk like that of the

cedar , branches like those of spartum , tw o spans long ,and with thre e or four dark , knotted joints . Thiskind too is of an astringent nature , and taste s l ike a

quince . It is boi led dow n in water to one third , ordried and powdered for sprinkling on ulcerations of

the mouth and excoriated bruise s , but for sore gumsthe plant itse lf is chewed . It arre sts corrosive ulcers ,and all those that spread or are slow to he a l ; forfrost - bite however it is spe cific . Herbalists a lso use

it for quinsy ; for headache they make a chaplet of

it which they place on the head ; while to cure eye

fluxes they put one round the neck . For tertianague some pluck it with the le ft hand and attach itas an amule t , and for haemorrhage also . The re 1s noother plant that they ke ep in a dry state more thanthey do polygonum .

XCII Pancratium some pre fer to cal l l ittle Panorat'

squil l . It has leave s re sembling those of the whiteli ly , but longer and thicker , and a root l ike a large ,red bulb . Its ju ice taken with vetch fleur re laxe' sthe bowe l s and cleans e ulcers . With honey it isgiven for dropsy and affe ctions of the spleen . Others

Or, clears up.


aqua dulcis fiat , caque e ffusa radicem terentes digerunt in pastil los sole siccatos et postea utuntur ad

capitis ulcera e t ce tera quae repurganda sint , item ad

tussim quantum tribus digitis adprehenderint in vinodante s , e t ad lateris dolore s aut peripleumonicis

e cligmate . dari t et propter ischiada in vino bibendame t propter t e rmina mensesque ciendos .

XCIII. Peplis , quam aliqui sycen , alu meconion ,

a lii me cona aphrode v ocant , ex una radice tenu ifruticat foliis rutae paulo latioribus , semine sub foliis

rotundo , minore quam candidi papav eris .

1 intervite s fere colligitur messibus siccaturque cum fructu

suo subiectis in quae excidat . hoc pote alvus solv itur ,bilis ae pituita de trahitur . media potio est acetabulimensura in aquae mulsae heminis tribus . et cibisinspergitur obsoniisque ad molliendam alvum.

XCIV . Periclymenon fruticat e t ipsa ex intervalloduo folia habens subcandida , mol lia . in cacumineautem semen inter fol ia durum et quod difli eile

v e llatur . nascitur in arvis ac saepibus circumvolv ens

se adminiculis quibuscumque . semen e ius in umbra

1 minore quam candidi papav eris Hermolaus Barbarus

minor candido papav ere Detlef sen post Urlichs : semen est

sub foliis , rotundum, minus candido papav ere M ayhofiminus d vulg. mines VR papav er VR papav eris d( ?)vulg.

Dioscorides IV 14 : 6ap.v iaxo€ è'

w €’

K 510.0 7 1511a 7‘0 5‘

<;6vÀÀcipza w epra Ànò<ira a 137 6v , 15770'

Àew ca , moooa 3fi Ka i n dpd. r ò.

<fi15ÀÀa €KBÀa o'

rrjoe i g , e’

q5'

a"3v KaprròS

‘ mood) w apa rrÀr)mog , c iovei.

ém xei,uevog r g

'

) <fiv'

ÀÀep, c xÀnpo‘

s Ka i Svoa nda vra orog .

“

Peri

clymenon f rutica t seems to mean Periclymenon forms a

shrub.

’

This fits honeysuckle , Lonicera etrusca , to which thename is usually re ferred. Pliny is inclined to treat any plantname as feminine , regardl ess of what it is, probably with herbain his mind. Ipsa therefore means this plant .

’

As I study

462

121

122

123


siccatum tunditur e t in past i l los digeritur . hi resolutidantur in vin i albi cyathis ternis tricenis diebus ad

lienem , cumque urina cruentata aut per alvumabsumit , quod inte llegitur a de cimo statim die .

urinam cient e t folia decocta , quae e t orthopnoicis

prosunt . partum quoque adiuvant secundasque

pe llunt pota simi l i modo .

XCV . Pe lecinon in segetibus diximus nasci , fruticosam cauliculis , foliis ciceris . semen in siliquis ferteorniculorum modo aduncis tern is quaternisv e , qualegit nov imus , amarum , stomacho uti le . additur inant idota .

XCVI. Polygala palmi altitudinem inple t , in caulesummo foliis lenticulae , gustu adstricto , quae potalactis abundantiam facit .XCVII. Poterion aut , ut alu vocant , phrynion v e l

meures large frut icat , spinis retorrida , lanugine spissa ,

foliis parvis , rotundis , ramulis longis , mollibus , lentis ,tenuibus , flore longo , herbace i coloris , seminis nu l liususus sed gustu acuto e t odorato. inv enitur in aquosis

collibus . radice s habe t duas aut tre s binum cubitorum in altitudinem , nervosas , candidas , firmas .

circumfoditur autumno e t praeciso frutice 1 radix 2

dat sucum radix gummis similem . mira vulneribus

sanandis traditur praecipueque nervis v e l praecisis

inlita . de coctum quoque e ius cum me l le pe tumdissolutiones nervorum e t infirmitates et incisuras

iuv at .

prae ciso frutice codd . praecisa radice M ayhojf .

radix del. Detlefsen .

See Book XVIII 155 .

What is the force of novimus Like git as w e know it ,i .e. in the form of imported seed.

Polygala much milk.

BOOK XXVII. XCIV. 1 2 0—XCVII. 1 2 3

into lozenge s . The se , dissolved in three cyathi ofwhite wine , are given for thirty days to cure splenicaffections , the sple en be ing reduced e ither by blood inthe urine or through the bowe ls , as is plain immedi

ate ly from the tenth day . The boi led leave s too are

diure tic , and also beneficia] to asthmatics ; they aid

de livery and bring away the after- birth if taken indrink in a simi lar w ay.

XCV . Pe lecinos I have said grows in cornfie lds .

It make s a bushy plant with its stalks , and has leave slike those of the chick—pe a . It bears se ed , like gitseed as w e know it ,“ in thre e or four pods curved likel ittle horns . This seed is bitter , a good stomachic ,and an ingredient c f antidote s .

XCVI. Polygala is a ful l span in he ight , w ithleave s , like those of lentil , on the top of the stem ,

and with an astringent taste . Taken in drink itpromotes an abundant supply of milk .

“

XCVII. Poterion , or as some cal l it , phrynioncr neuras , is a spreading shrub , shrive l led and prickly ,with thick down , smal l round le ave s , long branche sthat are soft , flexible and S lender , and a long flowerof a grass—green colour . The seed is not used in

medicine , but has a sharp , aromatic taste . The plantis found on moist hil ls . It has tw o or three roots ,tw o cubits in depth , sinewy , white and firm . It isdug up in autumn , and when the shrub has be en cut

away ,“ the root yie lds a juice l ike gum . An application of the root is said to be a wonderful healer of

wounds , e spe cial ly of sinews even when they havebe en severed . A de coction of the root also , takenwith honey , is good for re laxed , weak , or cut sinews .

There seems no need for Mayhoff’

s correction . When thetop w as cut off the root would bleed.

”

Felecia

Polygai

Poterio

124

126


XCVIII. Phalangitis a quibusdam phalangion

vocatur, ab a liis leucanthemum v e l , ut in quibusdamexemplaribus inv enio , leucacantha . ramuli sunt ei

numquam pauciores duebus in diversa tendente s , floscandidus , lilio rubro s imi lis , semen nigrum, latum ,

1

ad lenticulae dimidiae figuram, multo t enuius ,2 radicetenui , herbacei coloris . huius folio v e l flore v e l

semine auxiliantur contra scorpionum phalangiorum

que e t serpentium ictus , item contra termina .

XCIX . Phyteuma quale sit describere supervacuumhabeo , cum sit usus e ius tantum ad amatoria .

C . Phyllon a Graecis vocatur herba in saxosis

mont ibus . femina magis herbacei coloris , cauletenui , radice parva . semen papav eris

3rotundo

simi le . haec sui sexus facit partus , mare s autemmas ,

“ semine tantum differens quod est incipientis

olivae . utrumque bibitur in vino.

CI. Phe landri on nas citur in palustribus folio apii .bibitur semen e ius propter calculos et ve sicae in

commoda .

CII. Phaleris thyrsum habet longum, t enuem ecu

calamum , in summo florem inclinatum , semen simi lesesamae . et hoc calcule s frangit pe tum ex vino v e l

ace to v e l cum me l le e t lacte , idem et vitia ve sicaesanat .

1semen nigrum latum, M ayhofl

'

semine migro lato, codd .

2 tenuius M ayhofi tenuis codd.

papav erisego : papaveri codd .

mas Broti er a codd .

Dioscorides III 108 : one'

pua. p.e'

Àav , a'

ia 7rep

òaxozî fiuw v , iaxvo'

repov pe'

vroc rroÀÀclò . The Greek decides thereadings of the Latin, and also explains the apparent incon

sistency between la tum and tenuius .

466


CIII. Polyrrhiz on folia habe t myrti , radice smultas .

hac tusae dantur e vino contra serpente s , prosunt e t

quadripedibus.

127 CIV. Proserpinaca herba vulgari s e st , eximii

adversus scorpione s remedii. eadem contrita , additamuria et e le c e men is ,1 anginam eximie eurari

tradunt , prae terea et in quantalibet lassitudinerecreari de fe ssos , etiam cum obmutuerint , si subiciatur linguae ; si devore tur, v omitionem sequi

salutarem .

128 CV . Rhecoma adfertur ex his quae supra Pontumsunt regionibus . radix costo migro simi lis , minor e t

rufior paulo , sine odore , ealfaciens gustu et adstrin

gens . eadem trita vini colorem reddit ad crocum

inclinantem . inlita collectiones inflammationesque

sedat , vulnera sanat , epiphoras oculorum sedat ex

passo, insignita cum me l le et al ia liv entia ex aceto.

129 farina e ius inspergitur contra cacoethe et sanguinemreicientibus drachmae pondere in aqua , dysintericise tiam e t coe liacis , si febri eare ant , in vino , sin aliter,ex aqua . facilius t eritur nocte ante cedente madefacta . datur e t de coctum e ius bibendum duplicimensura ad rupta , convolsa , contusis , ex sublimi

13 0 dev olut is . si pectoris sint dolore s , additur piperisaliquid et murrae , si dissolut io stomachi , ex frigidaaqua sumitur , sic e t in tussi vetere ac purulentis

exereat ionibus , item hepaticis , splenicis, ischiadicis ,

ad 2 renium vitia , suspiria , orthopnoeas . arteriae

1et oleo e menis hoc ordine codd. e menis et elec M aghaj .

2ad codd. at Mayhoff , qui post ischiadicis punctum, post

orthopnoeas comma ponit.

Mayhoff’

s reading : oil and sprats—brine.

BOOK XXVII. cm . 1 2 6—CV. 1 3 0

CIII. Polyrrhiz on has leave s l ike those of myrtle ,and many roots These are pounded and given in

wine for snake bite . They are a lso of benefit whenquadrupeds are bitten .

CIV. Proserpinaca is a common plant , and an

exce l l ent remedy for scorpion stings . It also , theysay, when thoroughly crushed and with the additionof brine and sprats - oil ,

“ make s an exce llent remedyfor qu insy ; moreover , however tired one may be ,

even so weary as to lose one’s voice , to put it under

the tongue is said to dispe l the fatigue ; a lso that toswal low it re sults in healthful vomiting .

CV . Rhecoma isimported from the regions beyondPontus . The root re sembles dark costus , but issmal ler and a little redder, without sme l l but with a

hot , astringent taste . Wh en pounded it also is of a

wine - like colour , but inclining to saffron . Used as

liniment it reduce s gatherings and inflammations,

and heal s wounds ; in raisin wine it re lieve s eye

fluxes ; with honey it remove s dark bruise s , and invinegar other l ivid marks . Powdered it is Sprinkledover malignant sores for spitting of blood a drachma

by we ight is taken in water ; for dysentery too and

coe liac disease , should no fever be pre sent , it is givenin w ine , but where there is fever , in water. It iseasier to pound if it is steeped the night be fore . Its

de coction too is given , to be drunk in doubledose s , for rupture s , sprains , bruise s , and tumble s froma he ight . Should there be pains in the chest , a l ittlequantity of pepper and myrrh is added shouldthe stomach be re laxed , it is taken in cold water ;so a lso for chron ic cough and spitting of pus , likewise for liver complaints , spleen complaints , sciatica ,kidney troubles , asthma , and orthopnoea . Rough

469

Polyrr

Proser

pinace .

Rhecmr


scabritias sanat ex passo tribus obolis potis trita aut

decoctum e ius . lichenas quoque ex ace to inposita

purgat . bibitur contra inflationes e t perfrictiones ,

febre s frigidas , singultu s , tormina , herpetas , capitisgravitates , me lancholicas vertigines , lassitudinum

dolores et convolsion es .

CVI. Circa Ariminum nota est herba quam resedam v ocant . discutit collectiones inflammationesque

omne s . qui curant ea addunt haec verba

Reseda , morbis re seda ,scisne , scisne quis hic pullus egerit radice s ?nec caput nec pedes habeat .

hae c t er djount totiensque despuunt .

CVII. Stoechas in insulis tantum eiusdem nominis

gignitur , odorata herba coma hysopi, amara gustu .

menses ciet potu , pe ctoris dolores lev at . antidotis

quoque miscetur .

CVIII. Solanum Graeci o*

rpvxvciv v ocant , ut tradit

Corn e lius Ce lsus . hu ic v is reprimendi re frigerandi

que .

CIX. Smyrnion caulem habe t apii , fol ia latiora e t

maxime circa stolones multos quorum a sinu exiliunt ,

pinguia e t ad t erram infracta , odore medicato cum

quadam acrimonia iucundo, colore in luteum langue

A pun on the noun and the v erb .

Dioscorides says thyme , III 26 : a'

na i'

a v è'

xovaa 615;up Kd/M )V,but Ò

'

aow rros occurs a few words later . See also the note on

coma , p. 4 82 .

See Book II 3 3 . In Book VI 6, 2 Celsus speaks of medicamenta reprimentia .

Perhaps parsley.

13 4

13 5

13 6


scent e , capit ibus caulium orbiculatis ut apii , seminerotundo nigroque

1; arescit incipiente aestate . radix

quoque odorata gustu acri mordet , sucosa , mol lis .cortex e ius foris n iger , intus pallidus . odor murrae

habe t qualitatem , unde e t nomen . nascitur e t in

saxosis collibus et in t errenis . usus e ius calfacere ,extenuare . urinam e t mense s cient folia e t radixe t semen , alvum sistit radix , collectiones et suppurat iones non v e teres item duritias discutit inlita .

prodest e t contra phalangia ac serpente s admixtocachry aut pol io aut me lissophyllo in vino pota , sed

part iculat im , quoniam univ ersitat e v omitionemmov et : qua de

i

causa aliquando cum ruta datur.

medetur tussi et orthopnoeae semen v e l radix , itemthoracis aut lien is aut renium aut ve sicae v itiis ,

radix autem ruptis , conv olsis . partus quoque adiuv at

e t secundas pe llit . datur et ischiadicis cum crethmo

in vino. sudore s cie t e t ructus , ideo inflationemstomachi discutit , vu lnera ad cicatricem perducit .

exprimitur et sucus radici utilis feminis e t thoracis

praecordiorumque desideriis , cal facit en im et concoquit et purgat . semen peculiariter hydropicis datur

potu , quibus et sucus inlinitur . et ad malagmata 2

cortice arido e t ad obsonia utuntur cum mulso e t

oleo e t garo , maxime in e lixis carnibus . simon

concoctiones facit sapore simillima piperi . eadem in

dolore stomachi e fficax.

1nigroque M ayhojf nigro quod Basileensis editio, Detlef

sen : migro qui codd.

2 ad malagmata ego in malagmate M ayhojf malagmate

aut malagmata sine praepositz'

one codd.

E .g. a cough , catarrh or indurat ion .

Professor An drews thinks that there is a lacuna after

arido.

472

BOOK XXVII. crx. 1 3 3—1 3 6

of the stems are umbe l late , as are those of ce lery ;the se ed is round and black. It withers at the beginning of summer . The root too has a sme ll , and a

sharp , biting taste , be ing soft and ful l of juice . Its skinis dark on the outside , but the inside is pale . The

sme l l has the character of myrrh , whence too the

plant ge ts its name . It grows on rocky hills , and

also on those with plenty of earth . It is used forwarming and for reducing .

“ Leave s , root , and se edare diuretic and emmenagogue s . The root binds thebowe ls , and an application of it disperse s gatheringsand suppurations , if not chronic , as we l l as indurations mixed with cachry , polium , or me lissophyllum ,

it is a lso taken in wine to counteract the poison of

spiders and serpents , but only a little at a time , for if

taken all at once it acts as an eme tic , and so is some

time s given with rue . Se ed or root is a remedy forcough and orthopnoea , a lso for affe ctions of thorax ,sple en , kidneys or bladder , and the root is for ruptures and sprains ; it a lso facilitate s de l ivery and

brings away the after- birth . In wine with crethmos

it is a lso given for sciatica . It promotes sweatingand be lching , and there fore dispe ls flatulence of the

stomach . It causes wounds to cicatrize . There isalso e xtracted from the root a juice use ful for femaleailments , and for affe ctions of the thorax and of the

hypochondria , for it is warming , dige stive and

cleansing . The se ed is given in drink , e special ly fordropsy , for which the juice a lso is used as lin iment .The dried skin is used in plasters , and a lso as a sidedish b with honey wine , oil and garum, e special lywhen the meat is boiled .

Simon taste s very like pepper and a ids dige stion . Sinon.

It also is very good for pain in the stomach .

13 7

13 8

13 9


CX . Te lephion porcilacae simi lis est e t caule e t

foliis . rami a radice septem octonique fruticantfoliis crassis , carnosis . nascitur in cultis et maxime

inter vites . inlinitur lent igini e t , cum inaruit ,

de teritur . inlinitur e t vitiligini tern is fere mensibus ,sen is boris noctis aut dici ,1 postea farina hordeaciainlinatur . mede tur et vulneribus et fistulis .

CXI. Trichomane s adianto simi le est , exilius modonigriusque , foliis lenticulae densis , parvis ,2 adv ersis

inter se . decoctum e ius strangurias sanat in vinoalbo potum addito cumino rustico . e sum 3

cohibe t

capillos fiuent es , aut si efiluxerint , reparat , alopecias

que densat tritum e t in oleo inlitum. sternumenta

quoque gustatu mov e t .

CXII. Thal ictrum folia coriandri habet pinguiorapaulo , caulem papav eris . nascitur ubique , praecipuein campestribus . medentur ulceribus folia cum

me lle .

CXIII. Thlaspi duorum generum est : augustisfoliis digital i latitudine e t longitudine in t erram versis ,in cacumine div isis , cauliculo semipedali, non sineramis , pe ltarum specie semine incluso lenticulaee ffigie , nisi quod infringitur , unde nomen . flos albicat . nascitur in semitis et saepibus . semen asperi

gustus bilem e t pituitam utrimque extrahit , modus

1 Hic et ut add. Mayhofi : aut VRdR2parvis e The0phrasto (VII 14 . M ayhojf amaris codd .

3esum Ianus : lienem Mayhojf coll. Diosc. iesum codd .

With Mayhofi"s addition of lienem, and also splenic

disease .

See list of di seases .

Dioscorides IV 97 : q3v'

ÀÀad See Dioscorides II 156 : oîoveì e

’

vr edÀa ape'

vov . w ere

140

14 1

142


sumendi acetabul i mensura . prodest et ischiadicis

infusum donec sangu inem trahat . mense s quoquecie t , sed partus mecat . alterum thlaspi aliqui Persicon napy v ocant , latis foliis , radicibus magnis , et

ipsum utile ischiadicorum infusioni . prodest e t

inguinibus utraque . praecipitur ut qui colligat dicat

sumere se contra inguina et contra omne s collect ionese t contra vulnera , una manu tollat .

CXIV . Trachim'

a herba qualis sit non traditur.

credo falsum e t promissum Democriti portentosum

e sse , adalligatam triduo absumere lieue s .CXV . Tragonis sive tragion nascitur in Cretae

tantum insu lae maritimis , iunipiro simil is et seminee t fol io e t ramis . sucus e ius lacteus in cummimspissatus v e l semen in potione spicu la e corpore e icit .

tunditur recens e t cum vino inlini tur aut siccae farinacum me lle . eadem lactis abundantiam f acit mam

misque un ice mede tur.

CXVI. Est e t a lia herba tragos quam aliqui

scorpion v ocant , semipedem alta , fruticosa , sin efoliis , pusillis racemis rubent ibus grani tritici , acutocacumine , e t ipsa in maritimis nascens . huius

racemorum1 x aut XII cacumina trita ex vino potacoe liacis , dysintericis , sanguinem excre antibus men

sumque abundant iae auxiliantur .

1racemorum e Diose. M ayhojf ramorum codd . , Detlef sen .

I .e. like an enema .

Probably a mistake of Pliny’s . Dioscorides (II 156) hasonly d'yec Sè m ì a îp.a . Mayhofi

‘ would change donec topotione ,but the w 0 9èv after a îpa is, according to Wellmann, a part of

the next clause .

Persian mustard.

Mayhoff’

s emendation racemorum for the ramorum of the

MSS . is confirmed by Dioscorides IV 51 e’

1rì Sè n’

òv KMS…»

476

BOOK XXVII. CXIII. I3 9—CXVI. 142

stools . The measure of a dose is an ace tabulum. In

jections are good for sciatica , if continued until theydraw blood " It is also an emmenagogue but ki lls thefoe tus . The other thlaspi is cal led by some Persicon

napy ; it has broad leave s and large roots , while theplant itse lf is use ful to make an inj e ction for sciatica .

Both kinds are good for affections of the groin . The

picker is recommended to say that he is taking it as aremedy for the groin , all kinds of gatherings , and

wounds . He should lift it with one hand .

CXIV . We are not told the nature of the planttrachinia . I think it untrue , and the assurance of

Democritus fantastic , that used as an amulet it consume s the sple en in thre e days .CXV . Tragonis , or tragion , grows only on the

shore s of t he island of Crete , and re semble s juniper inse ed , leaf and branche s . Its mi lky juice , hardenedinto gum , or it s se ed taken in drink , brings away sharppoints embedded in the fle sh . For use as l in iment itis beaten up when fre sh and applied with wine , or it isdried , powdered , and applied with honey . It a lsopromotes abundance of mi lk , and i s a specific forailments of the breasts .CXVI. There is also another plant , tragos , cal led

by some scorpion , half a foot high , bushy , withoutleave s , and bearing tiny red clusters with wheat—likeseeds , and pointed at the extremity . This plant toogrows in coastal districts . Ten or twe lve e xtremitie sof clusters ,"l pounded and taken in wine , are good forcoe liac affections , dysentery , spitting of blood , and

exce ssive menstruation .

npo'

axew r a e oloveì payes pu<pa c'

, v pa i, KO.Tà pe'

yeÙog n vpov ,oéeîac 6 17 axpov

'rov

'7'

ov o xapwos , w s payes 3 6'

K0., av v

oì'

vw w ofl€ îac KOLÀLGKOUS‘ xa ì poì'

Kà5 w d>eÀovac.

Trachin

Tragom'

Tragos.


CXVII. Est e t tragopogon quem alu comen

v ocant , caule parvo , folus croci , radice longa dulci ,super caulem cal ice lato migro. nascitur in asperis

manditurque , sine usu .

143 CXVIII. Et de herbis quidem memoria dignahactenus accepimus aut comperimus . in fine earum

admonere non ab re iudicamus a lias aliis v irium

aetates e sse . longissimo tempore durat e laterium, ut

diximus , chamae leon niger XL annis , centauriumnon ultra XII, peucedanum et aristolochia ad v r,

vitis silv e stris anno , in umbra si serv entur. e t

animalium quidem exterorum nul lum aliud radice s anobis dictas adtingit excepta sphondyle quae omne s

persequitur. genus id serpentis est .

144 CXIX . Ne i l lud quidem dubitatur , omnium radicum v im e ffectusque minui , s i fructus prius ematures

cant , item seminum ante radice propter sucum incisa ,resolv itur autem omn ium vis consue tudine , e t

desinunt prodesse , cum opus est , quae cottidie in

usu fuere aeque quam nocere . omne s vero herbaev ehement iores e ff ectu v iribusque sunt in frigidis e t inaquilonis , item siccis .

145 CXX . Sunt e t gentium differentiae non mediocre s ,sicut accipimus de taeniis lumbricisque , inesseAegypti ,Arabiae , Syriac , Ciliciae populis , e diverso Threciae ,

Phrygiae omnino non innasci. minus id mirum

quam quod in confinio Atticae e t Boeotiae Thebanis

See Book XX 5 .

This phrase is probably an interpolation , a marginal noteadded to the text .

Or seed .

”


innascuntur, cum absint Atheniensibus. quae con

146 t emplatio aufert nos ad ipsorum animalium maturasingenitasque his v e l cert iores morborum omniummedicinas . rursus enim cum rerum 1 parens nullumanimal ad hoc tantum ut pasceretur aut al ia sat iaret

nas ci v oluit , art esque salutare s inseruit e t visceribus ,quippe cum surdis e tiam rebus insereret , tum veroi l la animae auxilia praestantissima ex alia anima

e sse voluit contemplatione ante cuneta mirabili .

1rursus enim cum rerum Mayhojf rursus enim eam rem

tractabimus , quandoquidem natura omnium rerum Detlefsenrursus enim earn rem (ea re (1 T)

BOOK XXVII. cxx . 145- 146

the Athenians , a l though Attica and Boeotia are

adjoining territorie s . That thought brings me to

the nature of an imal s themse lve s , and to the remedie sfor all disease s , of even greater re liability , that are

implanted in them at bir th . For aga in , the Motherof all creation both w i lled that no an imal should bebornmere ly to e at or to satisfy the appetite s of others ,implanting a lso heal thfu l medicine s in the ir vitals , because she w as implanting them even in unconsciousthings , and she a lso w i l led that those outstanding aidsto life should come from another l ife , a thought beyond all e lse most wonderful .

481

VOI.. VII.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

The word coma in Pliny, like d 7‘

) in Greek, is somet imes

perplexing when it is used, not literally, but of a part of a plantor tree . This is especially true when the word folium occurs

in the immediate context .

When used in its strict sense corna is the hair of the head,and so can be coupled w ith barba . We should expect , there

fore , to find it used figurativ ely of anything that grows at

the top of a plant or tree , such as the tuf t of a bulrush ; see

Pliny XXVI 62 in cacuminibus coma iunci . In sev eralpassages, howev er , coma seems to be foliage generally , whil ef olium is used of a single leaf . Examples are

XII 113 . folium proximum tuberi , perpetua coma .

XVI 84 . neque his autem quae semper retineni comaaeadem folia durant.XIX 102 . schistam hieme cum coma sua relinquunt,

vere f olia detrahunt.

In Dioscorides IV 5129 there is a distinct contrast betweenq

’

ÀÀa and K6WI»which leads Mayhoif in the parallel passage ofPliny (XXVII 93 ) to substitute coma for the conca va of the

MSS . Here Mayhoif suggests, without adopt ing it , comantia ,

citing as a paralle l XIII 59 , semper comantibus foliis . Here,

howev er, the addit ion of semper makes a difference . Leav es

can be semper comantw . ev ergreen ,

”but one could ha rdly

say that the leav es are like those of w ild myrtle , comantia ,

sp inosa . The passage of Dioscorides reads : pvpofvy cìyplq

è'

xw v r ò. q5v'

ÀÀa 5p.0 za , Koi/.flv cixav 9a'

181yK.T .À . Here there

seems to be a real di ff erence between the tw o words , nor can

K6p.1; be a filament , as that could hardly be dm ;/ 9468779 .

There remain those passages where coma e means hair

like filaments,”the clearest being XXVI 5 13 3 : dependere

comis iunceis multis , nigris , ut ex equorum cauda . Tw o

dubious instances near the beginning of Book XXVII call forspecial notice . In 526 w e hav e coma e tritae sanguinea suca

482

INDEX OF PLANTS

Problems incidental to the identification of plantsmentionedby Pliny have already been discussed (Vol . VI, Introd , pp.

The identifications of such early editors of the Natural

History as Hardouin Fée Bostock and Rileyand Littré (1855 ) are unreliable , since data on the

actual fiora of Italy and Greece were then inexact ; and therehas been no systematic , comprehensive approach to the

problem in the succeeding century. Many of the plantsmentioned by Pliny are discussed also by Dioscorides ; butthe more recent editions of Dioscorides , such as those of

Berendes (1902 ) and Gunther mostly list the identifications of such early scholars as Sprengel , Fraas , and Daubeny .

As for Theophrastus , only in the case of SirWil liam ThiseltonDyer’s index of plants in the LCL edition of his Enquiry into

Plants by Sir Arthur Hort is cons ideration given to the

scientifi c enumerat ion of the native plants of Greece by E . de

Halàcsy in his Conspectus florae Graeca e (1901—1904 , supplements 1908 and 1912 ) and special research prosecuted by DeCandolle , Hanbury, Yule , Schweinfurth , Bretz l , and others.

Halàcsy’

s work has been refined by M. Rikli and E . Riibel In

their article , Uber Flora und Vegetation v on Kreta und

Griechenland (Vierteljahrsschrif t der naturforschenden Gesellschaf t in Z urich, 68 pp. 103 and there is alsoavailable Rikli ’s general survey of the Mediterranean fiora ,

Das Pflanzenkleid der M ittelmeerldnder (1943 and As

for Italy, w e now have Adriano Fiori’

s comprehensivesurvey, Nuovaflora ana litica d

’

Ita lia (192 3 and Eugenio

Baroni’

s briefer compendium, Guida botanica d’

Ita lia

Problems relative to cult ivated plants have been considerablyclarified by the work of Elisabeth Schiemann (Die Entsfiehung

485

INDEX OF PLANTS

der Kulturpflanzen, 193 2 ) and Karl and Franz Bertsch(Geschichte unserer Kulturpflanz en , 2md ed . , The new

edition of the Greek-English Lexicon of Liddell and Scottdraws upon most of these sources and is very helpful in thoseinstances in which Pliny cites Greek plant names.

Nevertheless, ident ification of Pliny’s plant names is stilloften difficul t and sometimes impossible . It is necessaryfrequently to qualify the identificat ion by probably,

”

possibly, or“

perhaps,”

or simply to say ow n .

Pliny’

s practice of citing several secondary names for a plant ,adopted from certain of the pharmaceutical sources he con

sui ted , inv olves much overlapping. In the index , the identification is regul arly coupled with the primary name , and w iththis the secondary names are equated .

Abellana (mux ), haz e lnut , e sp.

Cory lus ave l lana , XV 88 , XVI120 , 12 1, XVII 96, 13 6 , XXII152 , XIIIII 145 , 150 , XXV13 8, 14 8 , XXIX 44 , XXX 87 ,105 , XXXVII 5 6 , 8 1.

Abies , silv er fir, A bies cepha lon ica and A . pectina ta , XII13 4 , XIII 13 7 , XV 67 , XVI3 0 , 3 8 , 4 1, 42 , 46 , 4 8 , 7 4 , 80 ,

90 , 9 1, 100 , 106, 12 2 , 125 , 126 ,12 7 , 12 8, 129 , 13 8 , 187 , 195,196, 20 1, 203 , 2 2 1, 22 2 , 2 25 ,245 , XVII 2 6, 9 1, 2 3 5 . Abies

as seaweed (XIII 12 7 ) isOystoseira abies -ma rina .

Abiga chamaepitys , XXIV 29 .

Absinthium , wormwood , A rte

mis ia absin thium, somet imes

perhaps A . santonica or pon

tica , XI 194 , XII 3 1, XIV 109 ,XVIII 3 05 , XIX XX15 , XXI 13 5 , 160 , XXII 65 ,147 , XXIII 52 , 12 3 , 146,XXIV 13 3 , XXV 7 3 , 145 ,XXVI 9 1, 124 , 151, XXVII45—53 , XXVIII 20 3 , XXIX13 3 ; seriphum , XXXII100.

486

Acacia , E tian acacia ,

A cacia a rabica , XX 4 8 , 208,

2 3 3 , XXIII 65, XXIV 4 3 ,109 , XXVII 16, XXX 56, 57 .

Acanth ion , u su al ly cot ton

thi st le , Onopordon acanthium,

and probably a lso O . ilbyri

cum, bu t in XXIV 108 a

thorn—tree , perhaps A cacia

arabica .

Acanthis sen ecio erigeron ,

groun dse l , S enecio vu lgaris ,

XXV 168 .

Acan thus , bear’

s foot , A canthus

spinosus and mol lis , XXII7 6, XXV 62 , 78 , XXVI 13 7 .

Acanus , pine- thist le , A tracty lis

gummif era , or perhaps cot ton

thist le , Onopordon aca nthium,

Acer, Mon tpe li er maple , Acer

monspessu lanum, XII 56, XVI66—69 , 7 4 , 9 1, 97 , 106 , 119 ,185 , 20 6 , 2 11, 2 3 1, 2 3 3 , XVII20 1, XXIX 4 6, XXXIII 14 6.

Achaemen is , perhaps v arietyof ancien t m ilkw ort , Euphor»

bia antiq uorum, XXIV 161,XXVI 18 .

INDEX OF PLANTS

ganifolium or swee t yarrow ,

A chi l lea agera tum, XXVII 13 .

Aglaophotis , magica l plant , perhaps peony , Paeonia ofi cina lis ,XXIV 160 .

Agnos , chas te- tree , Vilers agnus

ca s tus , XIII 14 , XXIV 59 .

Aiz oiim , ma ius hous e leek ,S empervivum arboreum, and

minus s tone - cr0 p , S eduma lbum , XVIII 159 , XIX 179 ,XXIV 169 , 182 , XXV 160 ,162 , XXVI 3 2 , 4 5 , 100 , 111,12 1, 12 7 , 129 , 13 1, 13 7 , 145 ,

16 3 , XXVII 14 , XXXII 40 .

A la ternus , the a la t ernus , Rhamnus a la ternus , XVI 108 .

Albicera , kind of oliv e , XV 20 .

A lbucus asphode lus, XXI

109 , XXVI 2 1.

Albue lis , a kind of grape v ine ,XIV 3 1.

Alcea , species of mallow ,

perhaps M a lope ma la choides ,XXVI 2 5 , XXVII 2 1.

Alcibium , poss ib ly Cretan bu

gloss , Echium parviflorum,

XXVII 3 9 .

Alcima a lisma , XXVI 2 5

45 , 83 , 128, 13 0 , 158 .

A le ima is the MS . reading in

XXV 124 and XXVI 128 , keptby Mayhoff . The readingrestored from D ioscorides isa lisma .

Alectoros lophos , ye l low ratt le ,Rhinanthus major , XXVII 40 .

A lga , sea-weed , XIII 13 5 , XXV

13 0 , XXVI 149 , XXVII 42 ,XXXI 115 , XXXII 66 , 111.

Alica , nearly a lways the pre

para tion , usua lly made fromemmer , Triticum dicoccum,

some times from naked wh ea t ;in rare instances th e wheatit se lf , III 60 , XIII 106 ,XVIII 50 , 7 1, 106, 10 9 ,

488

112 , XXII 110 , 116 , 124 , 128 ,1 3 6 , XXVI 3 2 , 44 , XXVIII2 3 1.

Alisma , wa ter—plan ta in , A lismap lantago, XXV 124 .

Al ium , gar l ic , A l lium sa tivum, X157 , XIII 13 3 , XIX 99 , 10 1,10 6 , 111—116 , XX 50—57 ,XXII 140 , XXV 50 , 76 ,XXVIII 200 , 2 65 , XXIX 7 8 ,13 3 , XXXII 128, XXXVI 79 .

Al nus , a lder, Betu la a lnus , XVI69 , 7 7 , 90 , 98 , 10 8 , 17 3 , 2 10 ,

2 18, 2 19 , 2 24 , 2 3 1, XVII 68,91, XXIV 74 , XXXI 44 .

A loe , bit ter a loes , A loe vera ,

XIV 68, XX 142 , XXI 7 6,XXVI 59 , 6 1, XXVII 14 .

Alopecis , kind of grape , XIV4 2 .

Alopecurus , fox . tail rabbit

f oot gra ss , Polypogon mons

peliensis , XXI 10 1.

Alsin e , perhaps l ich -wort , Parietaria lus itanica , XXVII 2 3 .

Al tercum or a ltercangenumhyoscyamos , XXV 3 5 .

Al thaea , marsh ma llow , A ltha eaofficina lis , XX 129 , 2 22 , 229 .

Alum , a t erm applied to sev erald iff erent plan ts , in XIX 116

giv en a s a t erm for wi ldform of garlic, in XXVII 4 1type of comf rey , S ymphytum.

Alypon , globe da isy , G lobula riaa lypum, XXVII 2 2 .

A ly sson , madwort , A sperugo

procumbens , XXIV 95.

Amaracus , sw ee t marj oram ,

Origanum ma rjoram , XIII

5 , 13 , 14 , 18 , XXI 3 7 , 59 , 6 1,67 , 163 , 176 . In XXI 176secondary name for pe l litory ,

Parieta ria ofi cina lis .

Amaran tus , cockscomb or ama rau th , Gelosia crista ta , XXI4 7 , 68 .

INDEX OF PLANTS

Ambrosia aiz oummaius , XXV160 ; artemisia , XXV 74 ,XXVII 2 8 , 55 ; a kind of

grape , XIV 40 .

Ambuba ia intubus erra ticus ,wild chicory , Cichorium sp. ,

XX 7 3 .

Amerimnon ,house—leek , S em

perv ivum tectorum, XXV 160 .

Ami, ha s been ident ified as

bishop’

s weed , Carum copticum(Ammi copticum), and picktooth , Ammi visnaga , XX16 3 , 264 .

Amomis, an inferior type of

amomum, XII 4 9.

Amomum , a product probably of

one or more of the u sual car

damom substitute s , such a s

Amomum subu la tum, A . car

damomum, and A . krev anh,XII 4 8 , 50 , XIII 15, 16 , 18,XIV 10 7 , XVI 13 5, XXVI 3 4 ,105 , XXXVII 204 .

Ampe lodesmos , esparto, Lygeumspartum, XVII 20 9 .

Ampe lopra son , wild leek , A l lium ampe loprasum, XXIV13 6 .

Ampelos agria , probab ly b lackbryony , Tamus communis ,XXVII 44 . In XXIII 19labrusca .

Ampe los leuce v it is a lba ,

XXIII 2 1.

Amygdala , a lmond , Prunusamygda lus , XII 25 , 3 6, 3 7 , 56,125 , XIII 8 , 19 , 60 , 66 , XV26 , 42 , 89 , 109 , 114 , XVI 8 3 ,86, 103 , 109 , 117 , XVII 11,6 3 , 88 , 13 1, 13 5, 2 3 7 , 24 8 , 252 ,

XXIII 85 , 144—145 , XXIV22 , XXVI 111, XXVIII 254 .

Amygda lites platyphy l los ,XXVI 70 .

Anabasis ephedra , XXVI 3 6 ;equi sae tum, XXVI 13 3 .

Anacampseros , perhaps S edumanacampseros , XXIV 167 .

Anaga l lis , pimperne l , Anaga llisa rvens is , inc l . subsp. phoenicea

and caeru lea , XXV 144 , 166 ,XXVI 3 5 , 55 , 80 , 90 , 102 ,118 , 119 , 144 .

Anagyros , stinking bean—tre foil,Anagyris f oetida , XXVII 3 0 .

Anarrinon , c . l . f or pararinon aut

sim. ,XXV 129 .

Anchu sa , a lkane t , Anchusa oj icina lis, XIII 7 , 9 , 10 , XXI85 , 99 , 12 1, XXII 4 8 , 50 ,

XXVII 59 , 1 10 , XXVIII 15 1,XXXII 85 , XXXVII 4 8 . In

XXII 5 1 a secondary name

for onochilon .

Andrach le (andrachne ), ( I) andrachme , A rbu tus andrachne ,XIII 120 , XVI 80 , XVII2 3 4 ; (2 ) purs lane , Portu lacaoleracea , XIII 120 , XXV 162 .

Androsaces , sea - nav e] , A ceta bu

taria mediterranea , XXVII 2 5 .

Androsaemon , perfo liate S t .

John’

s wort , H ypericum

perf oliatum, XXVII 26, 3 7 .

Anemone , usua l ly poppy ane

mone , Anemone coronaria ,

XXI 64 , 65 , 99 , 164 , XXV102 , 15 1, XXVI 109 ; oth

onna , XXVII 109 .

Anesum , an ise , Pimpine lla an i

sum, XIX 167 , XX 185—195 ,249 , 2 53 , 2 64 , XXVII 94 ,

XXVIII 100 , XXX 115 .

Ane tum , d il ] , A nethum graveo

lens , XIII 12 3 , XIX 62 ,117 , 119 , 12 3 , 124 , 167 , 170 ,

XX196, 2 60 , XXII 7 7 , XXVIII97 , 208 , XXIX 47 , 70 , 80 , 12 1,XXXI 119 , XXXII 94 , 10 1.

Angemon , Av ens , Geum ur

banum , but in XXIV 6

Lappa canaria .

INDEX OF PLANTS

Anicetum anesum ,XX 186 .

An onis (see a lso Ononi s ), rest

harrow , Onon is a ntiquorum,

XX I 9 1, 98 , XXVII 2 9 .

An onymos , nameless plant ,XXVII 3 1.

An tha lium , earth—almond , Cy

perus escu lentus . XXI 88 , 17 5 .

An thedon , Orienta l thorn , Cra

ta egus orien ta lis , XV 84 .

An themi s , wild chamomi le , M a t

f icaria chamomi lla , a lso A n the

mis chia , XXI 9 9, 10 3 , XXVI87 . O ther species of An themismay be re ferred to in XX II 5 3 .

An th ericus , sta lk of asphodel ,XXI 109 , XX II 67 , XXVII 14 .

Anth 0 phoros smi lax , XXIV8 3 .

An thy l lis , h erb ivy , Ajuga iva ,

XXVI 84 , 160 .

An thyllium , Cre tan pitch—plan t ,

Cres sa eretica , XXI 175,XXVI 84 .

An thyllum anthyl lium , XXI175 .

An t icyr icon , the second type of

se samoides , s .v . , XXII 13 3 .

Ant irrhinum , snapdragon , A ntir

rhinum orontium, XXV 129 ,XXVI 155 .

An t iscorodon , Cyprian garlic,form of A l lium sa tivum,

XIX 112 .

Aparin e , beds traw, Ga lium apa

rin e, XXVII 3 2 .

Aphaca , tare , Vicia sa tiva ,

XXI 89 , 99, 100 , 105, XXVII3 8 .

Apharce , hybrid arbutus , A rhut

us hybrida , XIII 12 1 .

Aphron mecon aphrodes

XX 207 .

Apiaca bra s sica , ce lery cab

bage , from it s crisped leav es ,Sav oy cabbage , Brassicaoleracea sabauda , XIX 13 6.

Apia-na , ki nd of grape , XIV 8 1.

Apiastrum , ba lm , Bl elis sa oj icina lis , XX 116, XXI 5 3 ;in XXI 70 perhaps S elinum

pa lustre . The poisonous type

men t ioned in XX 116 is

perhaps a Ranuncu lus .

Apios ische s , a spurge , Euphon

bia apios , XXVI 7 2 .

Apium , ce lery , Apium graveolens ,

perh aps to some extent a lsoparsley , Petrose linum sa tivum,

XIV 105 , XVI 3 8 , 164 , XIX4 2 , 98 , 12 1,122 , 124 , 158 , 168 , 18 3 , 185 ,

186 , 188, XX 7 9, 111, 112

115 , 189 , 19 1, 2 5 3 , 2 64 , XXII62 , 84 , XXIV 85 , XXV 102 ,

14 1, XXVI 88 , XXVII 4 9 ,13 3 , XXIX 4 2 , 80 , XXXII94 , 13 2 .

Apocynon , dog’

s - bane , M ars

den ia creola , XXIV 98 ,

XXXII 52Apo l l in aris hyoscyamus ,

XXV 3 5 , XXVI 140 , 14 7 .

Append ix , barberry , Berberisvu lgaris , XXIV 114 .

Apronia v it is nigra , i .e . , whitebryony , Bryonia a lba , XXIII2 7 .

Aprox is , un certa in , white dit .

tany , D ictamnus a lbus , sug

ges te d , XX IV 158 .

Apyrenum , pipless pome .

granat e , Punica grana tum,

a type w ith sof t se eds , XIII1 12 , XXIII 106.

Aquif olium , ho l ly - tree , Ilex aqui

f olium, XV 10 1, XVI 3 2 , 7 3 ,80 , 90 , 9 1 , 98 , 2 3 0 , 2 3 1,XXIV 116, XXVII 63 .

Ar achidn a , ground—pea se , La th

yrus amphica rpus , XXI 8 9 .

Ar acia - t ia ) , kind of fig- tree ,

XV 70 .

Aracos , v e tch of uncerta in

INDEX OF PLANTS

Asclepion , probab ly hairy la se rwort , La serpi tium hirsut um, or

sea parsnip, Echinophora tenui.

f olia , XX V 3 0 .

Ascyroides , probab ly a spe cies

o f S t . John’

s wort , H ypericum , XXVII 3 7 .

As cyron , common St . John’

s

wort , H ypericum perf oratum,

XXVII 2 6, 3 7 .

Asia , rye , S eca le cerea le , XVIII14 1.

a kind ofAs inusca , grape ,

XIV 4 2 .

Aspa la t-hos , ( 1 ) in XII 110 and

XX IV 111 came l ’s thorn ,

A lha gi maurorum ; (2 ) in other

au thors , and perhaps in some

of the fol low ing passage s , a lsothorny t re foi l , Ca lycotomev i l losa , and Genis ta acantho

clada , XIII 12 , 18, XIV 107 ,XV 3 0 , XXI 122 .

Asparagu s , us ed ( I) generica llyas a te rm f or any t end er

shoot pu t forth by spin ous

p lan t bef ore dev e lopmen t of

the leav e s , and (2 ) as a t ermf or a sparagus in particu lar ,both (a ) cu lt iv ated , most lyA sparagus ofi cina lis and A .

acutifolius , and (b ) w i ld , A .

a cutif olius , A . tenuifolius ,

and A . a lbus in Ita ly , and A .

acutijolius , A . aphy l lus , and

A . v ertici l la tus in Greece ,

XIV 105 , XVI 17 3 , XIX 54 ,

14 5—151, XX 108—1 11, XXI86, 9 1, 165 , XXII 3 9 , XXIII2 1, 2 7 , XXVI 84 .

Aspendios , a. kin d of grape- v ine ,

XIV 117 .

A sperugo, madwort , A sperugo

procumbens , XXVI 102 .

Aspha lt ion , t rea cle clov er , Peora lea bituminosa , XXI 54 .

Asphode lus , branching asphodel ,492

A sphode lus ramosus , in Greecea lso A . fis tu losus , A . a lbus ,and A . microca rpus , XXI 108 ,XXII 3 1, 67—72 , 7 3 , XXVI14 7 .

Asplenon , sca le f em , A spleniumceterach , XXVII 3 4 .

Astaphi s ste phis , XXI II 17 .

As ter , Ita l ian a ster , A s ter amel

lus , XXVII 3 6.

A ste rcum , wa l l—pe l l itory , Pari et o

aria ofiîcina lis , XXII 4 3 .

Astraga lus , Spani sh t ragacanth ,

A s traga lus ba eticus , XXVI 4 6,13 1, 14 5 , 14 7 .

Asy la f e li s ocu lus , unkn ow n ,

XXV 145 .

At eramon , see Teramon .

A tinia , loose - flow ering e lm ,

U lmus efi usa ,XVI 7 2 , 108,

XVII 200 , 208 .

Atra ctylis , dis tafi - thist le , Car

thamus lana tus , XXI 95 ;onecos , XXI 90, 184 .

Atriplex , orache , A trip lex her

tense , XIX 99 , 1 17 , 119 , 120 ,

12 3 , 170 , 18 1, XX 2 19 . The

w i ld form (XIX 117 , XX 2 19

22 1 ) is perhaps A triplex nitens

or Chenopodium a lbum.

Au le t icon , a kind of reed , XVI169 .

Av ena , oats , A vena sativa , IV

95 , VI 188, XVII 56, XVIII61, 143 , 149—150, 205, XXI129 , XXII 13 7 , 161, XXIX14 3 , XXX 3 8, 75. See a lsoBromos .

Babbia , kind of oliv e , XV 15 .

Bacca r , ha z e lwort , A sarum euro

paeam, XXI 2 9 , 3 0 , 13 2 , 1 3 3 ,13 5 , XXVI 113 .

Baccari s (XII 45 , XXI 2 9 )baccar .

Ba cch ica , a kind of ivy , XVI14 7 .

INDEX OF PLANTS

Balanitis , chestnut , Castanea

vesca , XV 9 3 .

Balanos , norma l ly a term for an

acorn , in XII 12 1, XIII 8 , 12 ,13 , 15 , XXII 149 ra ther the

f ru it of the Egypt ian ba lsam,

Ba lanites aegyptiaca , or per

haps the beh en - nut , M eringa

oleif era , in XIII 6 1 the tree .

Ba lanos Sardianos and Dios

ba lanos (XV 92 ) are the chest .

nut , Castanea v esca .

Ba lis , perhaps the squi rt ing cu

cumber , M omordica e la terium,

XXV 14 .

Balisca , a kind of grape- v ine ,

XIV 3 0 .

Ba l lote porrum nigrum , b lackhorehound , Ba llata nigra ,

XXVII 54 .

Ba lsamodes , a type of cassia ,

XII 97 .

Ba lsamum, ba lsam of Mecca ,

Commiphora opoba lsamum,

XII 111—12 3 , XIII 8 , 11, 13 ,15 , XV 3 0 , XVI 111—12 3 , 13 5 ,XXIII 92 .

Banan ica , a kind of grape—v in e ,

XIV 3 7

Barba Iov is, silv er - leav ed woolb lade , A nthyllis barba jov is ,XVI 76.

Basilicon (caryon ), walnut ,Juglans regia , XV 87.

Ba tis hort ensis , samphire or sea

fenn e l , Crithmum maritimum,

and batis marina , sea - ka le ,Crambe maritima , XXI 86.

See a lso XXI 174 .

Batrachion , celandine , Ranuncu lus sp. , XXVI 106 , 150 ,157 ranuncul us , XXV 17 2 ;

polyanthemum, XXVII112 .

Bdel l ium , v ine - pa lm , Borassusfiabelliformis , XII 3 5. Plinyis v ague in this passage , and

hi era v erbenaca ,

apparent ly uses bde lliuni of

both tree and gum .

Be ch ion , co l t ’s foot , Tussi lagofarf ara , XXVI 3 0 . The second

type , a lso ca l led sa lv ia (XXVIis perhaps Verbascum

lychnitis .

Bel lio, ye llow ox—eye daisy ,

Chrysanthemum segetum, XXI

4 9 .

Be l lis , white da isy , Bel lis perennis , XXVI 26 .

Be ta , beet , Beta vu lgaris , XIX86, 98 ,13 2—13 6, 18 1, 182 , XX 69—7 2 ,

2 20 , XXII 6 1, 14 3 , 144 ,

XXIV 150 , XXV 4 4 , 48 ,

XXVI 50 , 58 , XXVII 22 ,

XXVIII 209 , 2 14 , XXIX 40 .

Be tu l la , b irch , Betu la a lba , XVI

74 , 176 , 209 .

Bimammia , a kind of grape

v ine , XIV 4 1.

B lachnon (blechnon ma le fern ,

A spidiumfi lixmas , XXVII 78 .

B la ttaria , moth mu l le in ,Ver

bascum bla ttaria ,XXV 108 .

Blechon , pennyr oya l , M entha

pu legium, XX 156 .

B litum , primari ly blite , Amaranthus blitum, secondarily A

retroflexus , Blitum BonusH curious , and Euxolus v iridis ,XIX 99 , 117 , 1 19 , XX 252 .

Bo letus , mushroom , usua llyAgaricus caesarius , bu t pro

bab ly a lso Boletus edu lis ,XVI 3 1, XXII 92 , XXIII115, XXIX 10 3 .

Bombycia , a kind of reed , XVI169 .

BotaneXXV 105.

Botrys , usua l ly denotes a grape

c luster , bu t artemisia ,

XXV 74 , XXVII 28 , 55 .

Brabilla , probably the s loe ,

INDEX OF PLANTS

Prunus spinosa , or the bul la ce ,P . insi titia , XXVII 55 .

Brace , perhaps spe lt , Triticumspetta , oth erw ise a sof t emmer ,

T . dicoccum, XVIII 62 .

Brassica , cabbage , Brass icaoleracea , XIX 13 5 , 13 6, 13 7 ,14 3 , 167 , 17 6 , XX 7 8—96, 12 7 ,XXII 15 1, XXIV 158 , XXV

120 , XXVI 118 , XXVII 96,XXVIII 8 1 XXIX 10 6,XXX 24 3 0 . Brassicase linas , or ce lery cabbage ,

is Sav oy cabbage , Brassicaoleracea sabauda , XX 79 .

Th e w ild form (a g. , XX 92 ) is

gen era lly Brassica eretica .

Brass ica marin a in XX 96 is

perhaps Convolvu lus soldane l la .

Bra thy , sav in , Juniperus sabina ,

XXIV 102 .

Bratus , a tre e resemb ling the

cypress , XII 78 .

Britannica , grainless dock, Eumex aqua ticus , XXV 20 , 99 ,XXVII 2 .

Brochos or broch on fruit

(gum ) of bde l lium , XII 3 5 .

Bromos , oa t s , A vena sa tiva ,

XVIII 9 3 , XXII 161.

Brya , t amarisk, Tama rix af rica na and orien ta l is , XIII 1 16,XX IV 69 .

Bryon , green lav er, Utva lac

tuca , XII 108 , 13 2 , XIII 2 ,13 7 , XXIII 13 7 , XXVII 56

XXXII 110 . In XXIV 2 7sphagnos

Bryonia , bry ony . ( 1) the b lacktype is white bryony , B ryonia a lba , (2 ) the whi te type ,

common bryony , B . dioica ,

or perhaps Cre tan bry ,onyB . eretica . See XXH I 2 1—28w ith many alterna t iv e names

to each .

Bubonion aste r , XXVII 3 6 .

Buceras , fenugreek , Trigone l laf oenumg ra ecum, XXI 3 7 ,XXIV 184 .

Bucolicon , a kind of panacee,XXV 3 1.

Buconiat e s, a kind of grape ,XI V 3 9 .

Buglossos , Ita lian a lkanet , A n .

chusa i ta lica , XXV 8 1, XXVI116.

Bulapa th on , pat ience dock,

Rumex patientia , XX 23 5 .

Bu lbine (or bolbine ), sta r of

Be thl eh em , O rnithoga lum umbella tum , XIX 95 , XX 10 7 .

Bu lbus (or bo lbos ), the bu lb of

any sma ll , oni on - like plant

(XIX 60 , or of th e reed ,

A rundo dona x (XVIIor the plant it se lf (XVII 87 ,XIX 95 , XX or Pan

cra tiummaritimum (XIXbu t most of a ll th e ta sse lhyacinth , Leopo ldia carnosa .

See XVIII 3 4 , XIX 9 3 , 9 7,99 , 109 , 12 1, 13 4 , XX 102

106 , 107 , XXI 10 7 , XXIII 62 ,XXV 13 1, XXVIII 192 , 197 ,XXIX 44 , XXX 7 3 .

Bum a stus , a kind of grape ,XIV 15 ,

4 2 .

Bume l ia , an ash , Fraxinusexce ls ior , XVI 6 3 .

Bunia s , French turnip, Bras s icanapus , XX 2 1.

Bunion , cited as a t erm for a

kind of nav ew , actua ll yprobably Bunium pumilumor B . bulbocas ta num, XX 2 1.

Buph thalmus . In XXV 82 the

ye ll ow daisy , Chrysanthemumcorona rium ; in XXV 160

type of house - leek , probab lyS empervivum arboreum.

Bupleuron , of un certa in identity ,

Ammi majus , Bup leurum ri

INDEX OF PLANTS

Both are fumitories . See note

on XXV 155 . D ioscorides

giv es on ly one kind (IVCapparis (cappari) , caper , Cap

pa ris spinosa , XIII 12 7 , XV15 , 117 , XIX 163 , XX 165

167 , XXIV XXVII 2 7 ,95 , XXVIII 2 4 2 , XXIX 80 .

Caprificus, the ma le fig - t ree or

caprifig , Ficus ca rica , XI 40 ,118 , X II 3 5 , XIV 13 4 , XV 79 ,

80 , XVI 95 , 114 , 22 7 , XVII225 , 2 42 , 254 , 256 , XXIII126— 13 0 , XXXIV 13 3 .

Carbon ica , a kind of grape- v ine ,

XIV 4 3 .

Carcinothr on =polygonus , knot

grass , Polygonum a vicu la re,XXVII 113 .

Cardamomum , cardamom , e sp.

E letta ria cardamomum, XII50 , XIII 8 , 12 , XV 3 0 .

Cardamum , garden cress , Lepi

dium sa tivum, XIX 118 .

Carduus , ( 1 ) a this t le—likegrowth , XII 72 ; (2 ) a generict erm f or thist le s , XVIII 15 3 ,XX1 9 1, 94 , 9 6 ; ( 3 ) th e golderithist le , S colymus hispan icus ,

XX 2 62 , (4 ) the cardoon ,

Cyna ra ca rduncu lus , w ild or

cu lt iv a ted , XIX 55 , 152— 153 ,XX 262 .

Ca reum , caraway , Carum carui ,XIX 164 .

Caro(s ) hypericon , XXVI 86,119 , 13 0

Carphos f enum G raecum ,

XXIV 184 .

Carpinus , hom beam , Carpinus

betu lus , XVI 67 , 7 3 , 74 , 7 5 ,19 3 , 20 6, 2 2 6, 2 3 0 , XVII 20 1,XXVIII 19 1.

Carpophy llon , kind of laure l ,XV 13 1.

Caryites , a kind of t ithyma lus ,XXVI 66.

496

Garyon iuglans , XV 87 .

Caryophy llon , dried dower - budof d ov e—tree , Eugenia ca rgo

phylla ta , XII 3 0 .

Casia (ca ssia ), cassia , the bark ofv arious specie s of Cinnamomum, perhaps e specia l ly C.

iners , C . z eyla nicum, and C.

(ama ta , X 4 , XII 82 , 85 , 95

98 , 99 , XIII 10 , 1 1, 13 , 18,XIV 10 7 , XVI 13 6 , XXI 70 ,

XXV 175 , XXIX 55 ,XXXVII 204 . As a t erm for

a nat iv e European plant ,probab ly common ma rjoram ,

Origanum v u lga re , as in XII98 , XVI 13 6 , XXI 70 , XXVII74 . In XXI 5 3 a t erm for

cneorum .

Cas igne te hes t iateris , XXIV165 .

Cassioprca fi lix , f em of Cassi

ope , unknown , XXVII 80 .

Ca s tanea , che stnu t—tree , Cas

tanea v esca , XIII 1 10 , XV 2 8,92 , 9 3 , 112 , 114 , XVI 20 , 74 ,7 6, 98 , 13 8 , 20 6 , 2 12 , XVII 59 ,122 , 13 6, 14 7—150 , XXIII 150 .

Catanance , a v e tch , Ornithopus

compre ssus , XXVII 5 7 .

Cauca l is , of uncerta in id en tity ,

perhaps Tordy lium apu lum,

T . ofiicina le , Cauca lis grandif olio , or Pimpine lla sami/

“

raga ,

XXI 89 , XXII 8 3 , XXVI 25

Cau lis , in Pliny gen era l lysynonym ous w i th brass ica , as

a te rm for a particu la r type ,ka le , Brass ica oleracea ace .

pha la , XIX 54 , 57 , 13 6 , 13 9 .

Caulod es , ka le , Brass ica oleracea acepha la , XX 79 .

Cedre late , Greek jun iper , Juniperu s exce lsa , XIII 5 3 , XXIV17 .

Cedrosis v itis a lba , XXIII 2 1.

INDEX OF PLANTS

Cedrus , chiefly prickly juni per ,Jun zperus oxycedrus , XII 125 ,XIII 2 , 52 , 5 3 , 100 , XIV 112 ,122 , XV 2 8 , XVI 62 , 7 3 , 80 ,90 , 9 1, 13 7 , 186 , 18 7 , 197 , 203 ,20 7 , 2 12 , 2 13 , 2 16, XVII 2 3 6,XXIV 17—20 , 54 , XXVIII118 , XXXI 9 8 , XXXII 7 6,13 5 , XXXIV 17 7 . In XIII52 th e Phoen ician type of

cedrus is the Phoeniciancedar , Juniperus phoenicea ,

and the Syrian type is the

Syrian cedar , J. exce lsa .

Cedrus magna cedre la te ,XXIV 17 .

Cedrys , jun iper , Juniperus commun is , XIII 5 3 .

Ce lthis , n e t t le - tree , Celtis australis , XIII 104 .

Cemos , of uncerta in iden tity ,

perhaps Pla ntago eretica ,

M icropus erectus , or e v erlast

ing , Gnapha lium leontopodium,

XVII 5 7 .

Cen tauris , a kind of centaury ,

Erythra ea cen taurium, XXV69 , XXVI 104 .

Cen taurium , centaury , 1)maius,Centaurea sa lonitana or C .

cen taurium, XIX 186, XX 52 ,XXV 66, 100 , 14 2 , XXVI 2 7 ,3 3 , 4 1, 54 , 110 , 12 3 , 13 7 , 140 ,

15 3 ; (2 ) m inu s , Gen tiana

cen taurium, XXV 68 , 142 ,164 , XXVI 54 , 104 , 12 6 , 140 ,

15 3 , 185 , XXVII 4 7 . See

a lso XIX 186, XX 52 , XXV3 3 , XXVI 3 2 , XXVII 14 3 .

Cen t igran ium trit icum , hundred

gra in whea t , XVIII 95 .

Centum capita , e ryngo , Eryn

gium campes tre , XXII 20 .

Cen tuncu lus c lemat is , XXIV13 8 . See a lso XXVI 105 ,114 .

Cepa (caepa ), onion , A l lium

cepa , II 10 , XIII 13 3 , XIX99—107 , 111, 115 , 117 , 12 1,XX 3 9—4 3 , XXIII 14 7 , 14 8 ,XXV 2 6 , 5 3 , XXIX 108 , 13 3 ,13 4 , XXX 3 0 , XXXVI 179 .

The Asca lonian on ion (capaAsca lon ia ) (XIX of ten

id en t ified as the sha l lot ,A l lium a sca lonicum, is actu

a l ly a form of the onion .

Cepaea , an orpin e , S edumcepa ea , XXVI 84 .

Gera is , a type of wild rad ish ,

Raphanus raphanistrum, XIX82 .

Cera sus , cherry—tre e , more e s

pecia lly the swe e t cherry ,

Prunus av ium, and the sour

cherry , P . cerasus , bu t a lsothe maha leb , P . maha leb, andthe bog cherry , P . padus , XII14 , XIII 66, 105 , XV 57 , 10 1,102 , 104 , 105, 109 , 111, 113 ,XVI 74 , 104 , 124 , 125 , 126,13 8 , 18 1, 18 3 , 2 10 , 2 19 , XVII65 , 88 , 99 , 110 , 13 5 , 2 3 4 , 2 60 ,

XVIII 2 3 2 , XXIII 14 1,XXIV 106, XXXVII 42 .

Cera tia , camb - tre e , Cera tonias i liqua , XXVI 52 .

Cerat itis , horned poppy , Glau

cium f lavum, XX 20 6 .

Ceraunion , truffi e , probab lyTuber aes tivum, XIX 3 6.

Cerinthe , w ax - flow er , Cerinthe

major , XXI 70 .

Ceronia , camb - tree , Cera toniasi liqua , XIII 59 .

Cerrus , Turkey oak ,Quercus

cerris , XVI 17 , 19 , 20 , 2 5 ,2 18 , 2 3 0 , XXIV 13 , XXX 92 .

Cestros , be tony , Betonica ofi ci

na lis , XXV 84 .

Cha lecos , ye l low fish th ist le , Car .

lina corymbosa , XXI 94 .

Cha lce tum , unknow n , perhaps

Va leriana locusta , XXVI 40 .

INDEX OF

Chamaeacte , dwarf older, S ambu cus ebu lus , XXIV 5 1, XXVI120 .

Chamae cerasus , dwarf cherrytree , Prunus prostra ta , XV104 .

Chamaecissos , ( 1 ) ground- ivy ,

Glecoma hederacea , XVI 152 ,XXIV 82 , 13 5 , XXVI 54 ;

sowbread , Cyclamen euro

pa eum, XXV 1 16 .

Chamae cyparissos , ground

cypress , lav ender cot ton ,

S an tolina chamaecyparissus ,

XXIV 13 6 .

Chamaedaphne , dwarf laure ] ,periwinkle , Vinca herbacea ,

or doub le - tongu e , Ruscus hy

pophyllum, XV 13 1 , .XXI 68 ,172 , XXIV 13 2 .

Chamaedrys , wa l l -

germander ,T eucrium chamaedrys , XIV112 , XXIV 13 0 .

Ch amae leon , ( 1) pine- th ist le ,

A tracty lis gummif era ; ( 2 ) theblack type probab ly Cardo

pa tium corymbosum, XXI 94 ,XXII 4 5—4 7 , 85 , 157 , XXIII75 , XXVII 64 , 14 3 , XXVIII115 , 162 , XXX 3 0 .

Chamaeleuce , colt ’s - foot , Tussi

lago f arf ara , XXIV 13 5,XXVI 3 0 .

Chama eme lon , wild chamomile ,M a tricaria chamomi l la , XXII

5 3 , 157 .

Chamaemyrsine , dwa rf myrt lc ,

”bu tch er

’

s broom , Rus cus

acu lea tus , XV 2 7 , XXIII 88,165.

Chamaepeuce , probably fish

bone th ist le , Chamaepeuce

mutica , XXIV 1 3 6 . Lit trésays S erra tula chamaepeuce ,

Sprenge l S ta ehelina chamae

peuce .

Chamaepitys , ground pine ,

498

PLANTS

perhaps y e l low bugle , Ajugachamaepitys , or herb iv y , A .

iva , XIV 112 , XXI 175 ,

XXIV 2 9 . Littré sugges ts

h erb ivy , Ajuga iva , Passerinahirsu ta , and chia bugle , Ajugachia . In XXVI 85 hyperi

con .

Chamaeplatanu s , dwarfplane , a stun t ed form of the

Orienta l plane , P la tanus ori

euta lis , XII 13 .

Chamaerops , ( l ) dwarf -

palm ,

Chamaerops humi lis , XIII 3 9 ,XXVI 4 2 , 1 3 7 ; (2 ) chamae

d rys , XXIV 13 0 .

Chamaesyce , ground 6g,

wo lf ’s milk , Euphorbia chama esyce , XXIV 13 4 .

Chama ez elon quinq ue fo lium ,

XXV 109 ; gnapha lium ,

XXVII 88.

Chame laea dwarf oliv e ,me z erlon , Daphne mez ereum,

or poss ib ly spurge o liv e ,

D . oleoides , XIII 114 , XIV112 , XV 24 , XXIV 13 3 ; in

XXV 7 9 an herb ra ther than

a shrub, of uncert a in iden t ity .

Charac ia s , ( I) a typ e of spurge ,

perhaps wood spurge , Euphor

bia S ibthorpii , XXVI 62— 65 ,

7 1 (2 ) a species of reed , XVI168 .

Characites, probab ly chara

cias ( l ), XXVI 118 , 146.

Che lidon ia , great ce landine ,Che lidonium majus , VIII 9 7 ,XXV 89 , 90 , 10 1, 142 , 170 ,

XXVI 24 , 14 1, 152 . The

sma ll type in XXV 89 is

probab ly Ranuncu lus fica ria .

Chenamyche nyctegre ton ,

XXI 62 .

Chil iodyn amia polemonia ,

perhaps Greek v alerian , Polemon ium ca eruleum, or type

INDEX OF

Cissanth emos , perhaps perfoliatehon eysuckle , Lonicera capri

f olium, but many other sug

ge st ions hav e been made ,

XXV 116, XXVI 3 4 , 7 6, 156,16 1.

Cissos erythranos , red - berried

ivy ,

”H edera he lix, XXIV 82 .

Cisthos , rock - rose , Cistu s v i l losusand C . sa lvifolius

f ema le XXIV 8 1, XXVI4 9 .

Citru s , ( 1 ) citron—tree , Citrus

medica , XII 15 , XIII 10 3 ,

XV 4 7 , XVI 10 7 , XVII 64 ,XXIII 105 ; ( 2 ) thyine -wood ,

Ca l litris quadriva lv is , V 12 ,

XIII 2 , 9 1, 95 , 99 , 100 , 10 1,102 , XV 28 , 110 , XVI 66,68 , 69 , 129 , 185 , 2 3 1 , 2 3 3 ,XXXIII 146 , XXXVII 204 .

See a lso Thya .

Clema polygonon , XXVII1 13 .

Clema tis , v arious types of

bindwe ed , such as bearbind ,

Convolvu lu s a rv ensis , XXIV84 , 1 3 8— 14 1 ; in XXIV 13 9

perhaps C . scammon ia .

Clematit is (clemat is a

kind of aristo lochia , probablyAristolochia clema titis, XXV

95 .

Cleonicon ,v . l . for cleopiceton

clinopodion , XXIV 13 7 .

Cleopice ton clinopodion ,

XXIV 13 7 .

Clinopodion , wild basil , Ca la

min tha clinopodium, XXIV13 7 .

Clymenus , scorpion’

s tail , S carpiurus v ermicu la ta , XXV 70 ,XXVI 4 1, 7 7 , 1 11, 13 1. 140 .

Onecos , cu ltiv a ted , saffiow er,

Carthamus tinctorius ; wild ,

th e same or perhaps Car

thamus leucocau los or b lessed

PLANTS

th ist le , Cnicus benedictus,XXI 94 , 184 . In XXI 90

one of the tw o wi ld types is

Carthamus lana tus .

Cneorum , widow -wa il , Daphne

gnidium, XXI 5 3 , 55 ; in

XIII 1 14 perhaps me z erlon ,

Daphne mez ereum.

Cnestor , me z erlon , Daphne

mez ereum, XIII 114 .

Cnidinum , oil from st ingingne tt le , Urtica urens , XV 3 1.

Coagu lum terrae , unknown ,

XXVII 67 .

Cobios dendroides , XXVI 7 1.

Coccolobis , a kind of grape - v ine ,XIV 3 0 .

Coccus Cnidius , berry of the

shrub cneorum , Daphne gnid

ium, XXVII 70 .

Coccygia , a kind of sumach ,

perhaps w ig tre e , Rhus coti

nus , XIII 12 1. Coccus gnidius

and Daphne gnidium hav e

a lso been suggested .

Cocca or coix , doump a lm,

H yphaene thebaica , XIII 4 7 .

Colocasia , taro , Colocas ia an ti

quorum, XXI 174 ; in XXI

87 apparent ly erroneouslyapplied to the Indian lotus ,N e lumbo nucif era .

Colocyn thi s , colocyn th , Citru l luscolocynthis , XX 14—17 .

Columbina , a kind of grape .

v ine , XIV 40 .

Comacum , perhaps spice- nut

meg, M yris tica f ragrans , or

a ilan thu s , A i lan thus ma la

barica , XII 13 5 , XIII 18.

Comaros , Greek for arbu te - tree ,

A rbutus unedo, wrongly takenby Pliny to be the frui t , XV

99 .

Combretum , a reed , perhaps

Juncus maximus , XX I 3 0 ,13 3 .

INDEX OF PLANTS

Come tragopogon , XXI 89 ,XXVII 142 .

ommagene , an unknown plan t ,XXIX 55 .

Condrion condril le chon

dr il le , gum succory , Chondri lla juncea , XXII 9 1.

Condurdum , perhaps a soapwort ,cow basil , S apona ria vaccari a ,

XXVI 2 6.

Ccnf erv a , probably some spe cies

of Conf erva , a water -

plan t ,XXVII 69.

Conseminea , a kind of grape

v ine , XIV 3 6.

Consiligo , lungwort , Pu lmonaria

oflîcina lis , XXV 86 , XXVI 3 8 .

Conv olv u lus , h edge bind -we ed ,

Convolvu lus sepium, XVII2 64 , XXI 2 3 .

Cony z a , 1) v iscou s e lecampane ,Inu la v iscosa ; 2 ) fi eabane ,

I . pu licaria , XIX 165 , XXI

5 3 , 58 , 70 , XXVI 160 .

Coracesia , a magica l plant tha tmakes wa ter free z e , XXIV156 . See p . 110 , note a .

Corchorum - u s , - os ), ( l ) blue

pimperne l , Anaga l lis caeru lea ,

and red pimperne l , A . phoeni

cea , XXV 144 (a ssumingacoron to be an error for

corchoron ) (2 ) Jew’s ma llow ,

Corchorus olitorius , XXI 89 ,18 3 .

Coriandrum , coriander , Cori

andrum sa tivum, XII 109 ,

XVIII 13 , XIX 117 , 118 , 119 ,12 3 , 170 , 18 1, XX 52 , 57 , 80 ,8 1, 87 . 102 , 149 , 170 , 2 16—2 18,

256, XXIII 16 , 4 3 , XXV 3 4 ,XXVI 113 ,

13 3 , XXVII 13 8 , XXIX 60 ,

XXX 90 , XXXII 78 , 94 .

Coriarius , a type of sumach

used in tanning leather ,

perhaps myrt le - leav ed tan

ne r’

s tree , Coriaria myrtifo lia ,

XXIV 9 1.

Corinth ia minya s , XXIV 15 7 .

Coris , v . l . for caro , XXVI 86 .

Corissum hypericon , XXVI85 , 129 , 164 .

Cornus , primarily th e corn e liancherry , Cornus mas , secondar

ily th e corne l , C. sanguinea ,

XIV 10 3 , XV 10 1, 105 , 10 9 ,XVI 74 , 9 7 , 10 3 , 105 , 183 , 186,206 , 2 11, 2 2 6 , 2 2 8 , XVII 20 1,XXI 72 , XXIII 15 1, XXIV150 .

Coronarium , a kind of grape ,

XIV 42 .

Coronopus , hart shorn , P lantagocoronopus , XXI 99 , XXII4 8.

Corruda , wild asparagus , per

h aps e specia l ly A sparagus

acutifolius , XVI 17 3 , XIX

54 , 145, 15 1, XX 110 .

Cory lus (corulus ), the haz e l ,Corylus avel lana , XVI 7 4 , 75,178 , 2 2 8 , XVII 67 , 15 1, 240 ,XXXI 8 3 .

Corymbia , a kind of f eru la ,

XIX 175 .

Corymbit es pla typhyl lum , a

kind of t ithyma lus , XXVI 70 .

Costus , costus , S aussurea Zappa ,

XII 4 1, 50 , XIII 15 , 16 , 18 ,

XIV 107 , XXII 118 , XXVII128 .

Cot inus , Vene tian sumach ,

Rhus cotinus , XVI 7 3 ; but

usua l ly a term for w ild

oliv e - tree .

Coton ea , secondary name for

ha lus, XXVI 42 .

Cotoneum , quince , Cydonia vul

garis , XII 3 8 , 10 3 , 124 , XIII

11, 110 , XV 3 7—3 8, 49 , 58 , 60 ,110 , XVII 67 , 68 , 75 , 13 6,

XIX 3 4 , 92 , XXI 3 8 , 142 .

XXII 122. 142, 14 3 , 144 , 146.

INDEX OF PLANTS

XXIII 97 , 100—103 , XXIV2 9 , 129 , XXVII 55 , 116 ,

XXX 50 , XXXIV 13 3 .

Coty ledon , nav e lwort , Coty ledonumbi licus ; the othe r kindperhaps C . steri lis or S axif ragamedia , XXV 159 , 164 , XXVI3 2 , 80 , 9 1, 106 , 119 , 12 1, 12 6,XXVIII 2 4 2 .

Graeca , a kind of w ild v e tch ,

possib ly Vicia cracca , XVIII14 2 .

Cram be , in Greek, a generic t ermfor cabbage in XX 7 9 a t ermfor a form of cu lt iv a ted

cabbage , Brassica oleracea .

Crata egis , of uncerta in identity ,

perhaps by e rror for cratae

gonon , XXVI 99 .

Cra ta egonon - os ) , fi eaw ort ,

Polygonum persica ria , XXVII62 , 6 3

Crata egos =aquifolium , XXVII6 3 ; but properly is a type of

thorn , perhaps Cra taegus H el

dreichii .

Cremnos agrios , w ild samphire ,

Cri thmum maritimum, XXV155 , XXVI 94 .

Crepis , ox - tongue , H elminthiaechioides , XXI 99 .

Crethmum - os ) , samph ir e ,

Cri thmum ma ritimum, XXVI82 , 158 , 160 , XXVII 13 5 .

Cre t ica , a type of aristolochia ,

e quated with c lemat it is , bu t

probably rathe r A ristolochiaeretica , XXV 95 .

Crinon , a l ily , Li lium sp. , XXI2 4 .

Crista a lectoros [ophos , i .s . ,

ye l low ra t t le , Rhinanthus ma jor, XXVII 40 .

Crocis , unkn own , possibly ca tch

fly silene , S i lene mu scipu la ,

XXIV 167 .

Crocodi leon , sea - hol ly, Eryn

50 2

gium ma ritimum, or perhaps

te a se l , D ipsacus f u l lonum,

XXVII 64 .

Crocus , sa f fron , Crocus sa tivus ,a s a w i ld plant , th e springcrocus , C . v ernus , XII 129,XIII 5—11, 12 , 16 , 18 , 2 1, 95 ,XIV 107 , 13 5 , XVII 3 8 , XIX98 , 100 , XX 187 , 20 8 , XXI3 1- 3 4 , 3 6, 5 3 , 6 3 , 67 , 89 , 10 6,118 , 13 1, 13 7— 13 9 , XXII 104 ,

XXIII 8 , 84 , 97 , 108 , 13 6 ,XXIV 7 8 , 12 9 , 165 , 166, XXV90 , 102 , 169 , XXVII 10 3 , 142 ,XXVIII 94 , 2 19 , 2 45 , 24 8 ,

XXIX 3 9 , 4 2 , 120 , 13 8 , XXX12 6 , XXXII 58, XXXIV 114 ,XXXVI 145 , 147, 158, 177,XXXVII 185 .

Croton cici, XV 25 , XVI 85 .

Crysta l lion psy l lion , XXV140 .

Cuci, doum -

pa lm, Hypha ene

theba ica , XIII 62 , XV 114 .

Cucullus (v .l . cucuba lus )strychnos , XXVII 68 .

Cucumi s , u su a l ly the cucumber ,Cucumis sa tivus ; as a w i ldform , the squirt ing cucumber ,Ecballum e la terium ; a lso usedgenerica l ly to include the

colocyn th , the me lon , and the

waterme lon , IX 3 , XII 7 1,XIV 1 10 , XIX 6 1, 64—70 ,

7 1, 74 , 117 , 118 , 144 , 18 1,184 , 186, XX 3—10 , 12 , 103 ,194 . 2 3 7 , 250 , XXII 5 1, 89 ,XXIII 14 3 , XXVI 105 , 12 1,XXVII 9 , 2 3 , XXVIII 2 19,XXXII 99 , 14 7 , XXXVII 58 .

Cucurbita , the large gourd ,

Cucurbita maxima , and the

bot t le - gourd , Lagena ria vu l

garis , XIX 61, 69—74 , 117 ,

118, 18 1, 186 , XX 13 , XXV

113 , XXVIII 205, XXXII12 3 .

INDEX OF PLANTS

Cynosba tos , ( 1) white rose , Rosa

s emperv irens , XVI 180 ; 2 )b lack - curran t , Ribes nigrum,

XXIV 12 1 ; ( 3 ) se condaryname for cappari , XIII 12 7 ,XXIV 12 1.

Cynosorchis , a species of Orchis ,XXVII 65, probably ident ica lw ith the orchis sa tyrios of

XXVI 96 .

Cyn oz olon , b lack type of

chamaeleon , Cardopa tiumcorymbosum, XXII 4 7 .

arit t ias , a type of spurge ,

perhaps Euphorbia a leppica ,

XXVI 70 .

Cype rus (or cypirus ), ba sica llya t erm f or Cyperus sp . , the

exact specie s un id en t ifiable

withou t d escriptiv e d eta ils ,ex tended some t imes to sim ilarplan ts , as in XXI 10 7 , 11 1,115 to gladiolus , corn—flag ,

Cla diolus segetum. See XII42 , 4 3 , XIII 13 , 18 , XVII 95,209 , XXI 88 , 10 7 , 111, 115 ,

XXII 40 , XXV165.

Cypira , an un id ent ified Ind ian

plant , XXI 117 .

Cypros - u s ), henn a plant , Lawsonia inermis , XII 3 0 , 108 ,10 9 , 12 1, XIII 9 , 11, 12 , 13 ,18 , XXIII 90 , XXIV 74 ,XXIX 10 6 , XXX 2 1, 110 ,12 6 , XXXV 195 .

Cyt isus , tree—medick , M edicago

arborea , XII 20 , XIII 13 0

13 4 , XVI 92 , 186 , 204 , XVII52 , 2 3 9 , XVIII 145 , 148 , 165,XXI 70 , XX VII 82 .

Dacty lus , (I) dog ’

s - tooth grass ,Cynodon dacty lon , XXIV 182

(2 ) a kind of grape , XIV 15 .

Damason ion a lisma , XXV124 , XXVI 25, 92 , 143 .

Danae , a type of laure] , XV1 3 1.

Daphn idis , a type of cassia , XII98.

Daphnoides , ( 1 )me z erlon , Daph

n e mez ereum, XV 13 2 , XXIII158 ; ( 2 ) an Egypt ian type of

c lemat is , XXIV 14 1.

Daucos a generic termapplied to sev era l plant s ,inc luding the w i ld carrot

(Daucus carota subsp. carota ),v arious species of A thaman ta ,

Nl a la ba ila aurea , and Bu .

pleurum ruticosum. See XIV1 11, XI 89 , XXV 110 , 112 ,119 , 13 4 , XXVI 2 8 , 3 5 , 4 1,45 , 74 , 8 3 , 88 , 89 , 110 , 128 ,13 7 , 15 7 , XXXII 10 1. In

XXV 110—1 12 four kind s are

ment ioned , bu t can be reduced

to tw o or at most three .

Denclroides , a kind of spurge ,wol f ’s m ilk , Euphorbia den

droides, XXVI 7 1.

Dia leucon , a kind o f sa ffron ,

Crocus sa tivus , XXI 3 3 .

Diaxylos aspalathos (I) ,XXIV 112 .

Dictamnos , in XX 156 a

secondary name for a w ildtype of pennyroya l , M entha

pu legium.

Dictamnum , dit tany , Origanumdictamnus , VIII 97 , XIV l l l .XXV 92—94 , 10 1, XXVI 79 ,

161.

D iete d ictamnum , XXIV 164 .

D igite l lum , house - leek , S empervivum arboreum, XVIII 159 ,XXV 160 , XXVI 163 .

Diony sonymphas hestiateris ,XXIV 165 .

Dios balanum , chestnu t , Cas

tanea vesca , XV 9 3 .

Diospyron , u su a l ly the frui t of

the false lote - tree , D iospyrus

INDEX OF PLANTS

ebenum, but in XXVII 98li thospe rmon .

Dipsacos , tea se ] , D ipsacus f u l lonum, XXVII 7 1.

Dodecatheon , probably common

primrose , Primu la acau lis ,XXV 2 8, XXVI 10 7

Dolichos , black - eyed cowpea ,

Dolichos melanophtha lmus,XVI 244 .

Donax , reed , A rundo donax,

XVI 165 , XX IV 86 , XXXII14 1. In XXXII 15 1 not the

plant , but the raz or - she ll.Doripetron leont 0pod ion ,

XXVI 52 .

Doris pseudoanchusa , XXII50 .

Dorycn ionum) , thorn—apple ,

Da tura stramon ium, or me ta lnu t , D . mete l XXI 179 , XXIII3 0 , XXVIII 7 4 , 129 , 158 ,XXXII 58, 59 , 97 . In other

authors , a lso denotes Convolvu lus oleaefolius , M elissa ofl

‘lci

na lis , and Anacyclus pyrethrum.

Drabe (emend. Arabian

mustard , Lepidium draba ,

XXVII 7 3 .

Dracontias , a type of whea t ,perhaps pou lard , Triticumturgidum, XVIII 64 .

Dracontium - ion ), generic termfor v arious types of arum,

e specia l ly the edderw ort ,A rum dracuncu lus , and the

Ita lian arum , A . ita licum,

XXIV 142 , XXV 17 5 ,XXVIII 15 1, three types described in XXIV 150 .

Dracuncu lus , e ssent ia l ly the

Latin equiv a len t of dracon

t ion , and u sed in the same

w ay , XXIV 89 , 142 , 14 9 ,XXV 18 , XXXII 148 .

Druppa , a ha lf - ripe oliv e , XII13 0 , XV 6, 2 6, XVII 2 3 0 .

Dryopteris , a fem sim ilar to

f e lix , XXVII 7 2 .

Duracinum , a hard—skinned or

hard - berried type of peach ,

Amygda lus pers ica , XV 3 9 .

50 5

Ebulum , dwarf older, S ambucusebu lus , XVII 55 , XVIII 3 4 ,XXV 119 , 164 , XXVI 8 1,119 , 120 .

Echinopus , a prickly plan t ,probab ly a type of broom ,

Genista acanthoclada , XI 18 .

Echios , tw o kinds , perhaps

sma l l - fiow ered ca tchfiy , S i lenega llica , and red - flow ered

v iper’

s bugloss , E chium rub

rum, or E p lan tagineum , XXV104 . Bohios persona ta ibid.

is perhaps common burdock ,A rctium Zappa .

Echis pseudoanchusa , XXII50 .

Echites , a doubt fu l read ing in

XXIV 13 9 , where De t lefsenand Mayhoff read ae t ites , a

type of c lemat is . See Clema tis .

Ectomon , b lack h e l lebore , H el

leborus niger, XXV 5 1.

Elaphoboscon , parsnip, Pastina ca sa tiva , XXII 7 9 , XXV 92 .

Elate , silv er - tir , Abies cepha

Ionica or pectina ta , XXIX 56.

In XXIII 99 giv en as a termfor the dwarf -pa lm , Chamae

ropa humi lis , bu t actua l ly a

t erm for the cabbage of th is

pa lm ; in XII 13 4 the termin this sense misapplied to thefir ; in XXVI 8 1 perhaps a

MS . error .

E la tine , cankerwort , Linaria

spuria ,XXVI 82 (emend.

U rlich s ) , XXVII 74 .

Ele lisphacus , a sage , but of

uncerta in identity , perhaps

S a lvia ofiicinalis , S . triloba ,

INDEX OF PLANTS

S . ca lycina , or S . pomif era ,

XIV 111, XXII 14 6 ,—XXIII14 5 , XXV 120 , XXVI 150 .

E l leborine , ruptur e-wort , H erni

aria glab ra , XXVII 7 6.

E l leborum. Se e H e lleborum .

Emarcus , kin d of grape- v ine ,

XIV 3 2 .

Embolin e epicact is , XIII 114 .

Empe tros ca lcifraga , perhaps

hart stongue , A sp lenium scolopend rium, XXVII 7 5 .

Enchry sa onochi lon , XX II 5 1.

Enneaph y l lon , perhaps tooth

w ort , Denta ria enneaphylla ,

XXVII 7 7 .

En thry scum , a specie s of cherv il ,S ca ndia: aus tra lis , XXI 89 ,XXII 8 1.

Ephedra- ou ,

—um ) anaba sis ,XX VI 3 6 ; men t ioned , XXVI12 5 ; equi saetum , XXVI1 3 3 . See a lso H ippur is .

Eph emeron , a poisonous plan t ,meadow sa ffron , Colchicumau tumna le , XXV 170 , XXVI122 , XXVIII 160 .

Epicac t is (probab ly by error

for epitact is ), rupture—wort ,H ernia ria gla bra , XIII 114 ,

XXVII 7 6.

Epimedion , an unknown p lantw hich Pl iny says nev er flowers .

It has been iden t ifi ed w ith

M arsi lea quadrif olio , and

moonw ort , Botrychium lun

aria , XXVII 7 6.

Epipetron , of uncerta in iden

t ity , perhaps the house - leek ,S emperv ivum tectorum or ar

boreum, or a type of stone

crop, S edum rupestre or v ar .

anop eta lum, XXI 89 .

Epithymum , a para sitic plant onthyme , clov er dodder, Cuscutaepithymum, XXVI 55, 56, 106,13 0.

6

Equ isae t is- um ) , horse v ta il ,

Equ isetum a rv ens e or maximum, XVIII 259 , XXVI13 2—13

Eran th emis an th emis , XXII5 3 , species of An themis .

Erent-hodanum erythrodanum ,

madder , Rubia tinctorum ,

XXIV 94 .

Erica , h ea th , Erica arborea , XI4 1, XIII 1 14 , XXIV 64 ;myri ce , XXIV 67 .

Erigeron , groun dse l , S ene cio

vu lgaris , XX II 1 3 3 , XXV167 , XXVI 8 1, 10 1, 13 0 , 145 ,163 .

Erineos , w ild fig - tree , Ficuscaprificus , XXIII 1 3 1 .

Eriphia , unknown , probab ly a

mistake of P liny ’

s , XX IV 168 .

Eritha le s , whit e s tone - crop, S ed .

um a lbum, XXV 160 .

Bruca , rocket , Eruca sa tiva , X182 , XIX 7 7 , 117 , 12 3 , 154 ,168 , 169 , 17 1, 181, 185 , XX19 , 125—12 6, XXII 158 , XXV

168 , XX VI 57 , XXVII 109 ,XXVIII 119 , XXX 10 1.

Erv i lia , type of chickp ea ,

Cicer a rietinum, or perhaps

chickling v etch , La thyrus

sa tivus , XVIII 58, 98, 14 3 ,

XIX 4 7 , XXI 70 .

Erv um , b it t er v etch , E rvumervi lia , XIII 13 0 , XVII 56,240 , XVIII 57 , 59 , 10 3 , 124 ,

13 9 , 155 , 156, 198, XIX 179 ,XX 20 , 2 64 , XXII 2 9 , 15 1

15 3 , 162 , XXIII 2 6, 12 7 ,XXVI 60 , 6 3 , XXVII I l , 118,XX VI II 65.

Erynge or eryngium , eryngo ,

E ringium camp es tre, XXI9 1, 94 , XXII 18—24 . Seaholly , E . maritimum, is

apparently described in XXII19.

INDEX OF PLANTS

174 , X 157 , XIII 114 , XVIII7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 15 , 17 , 49 , 5 2 , 56,6 1, 62 , 66, 8 1, 82 , 83 , 88 , 92 ,9 3 , 97 , 108 , 111, 14 1, 142 , 166 ,184 , 185 , 187 , 198, 202 , 205 ,24 1, 2 98 , XX 57 , 2 42 , XXII12 1, XXIV 3 0 , 3 9 , XXVI 3 9 ,163 , XXX 148 , XXXIII 118.

Farfarus , co lt ’s foot , Tus silago

f arf ara , XXIV 1 3 5 .

Farfugium farfarus tus si

lago, XXIV 13 5 .

Fe l t errae centauri um minus ,XXV 68 .

Fe licu la , a rock i ern polypodion , XXVI 58 .

Fe lis ocu lus , emenda tion of f erus

oculus asy la , XXV 14 5 .

Fe lix , bracken f ern , Pteris aqui

lina , and ma le f ern , A spidium

fi lix -mas , XVII 2 9 , 54 , XVIII4 5 , XXIV 85, XXV 44 , XXVI58 , XXVII 3 4 , 72 , 78—80 ,XXXVI 187 .

Femur bubulum , unkn ow n . It

ha s been though t , w ithout

probabil ity , to be motherwort ,Leonurus ca rdiaca , XXVII8 1 .

Feniculum (faenicu lum ) , f enn el ,Foenicu lum vu lgare , VIII 99 ,XIII 13 6, XIX 119 , 17 3 , 186,XX 4 3 , 194 , 242 , 254 , 26 4 ,XXIV 152 , XXV 82 , 110 , 117 ,XXIX 119 , XXXII 129 .

Fenum Graecum , f enugreek ,Trigone lla f aenum gra ecum,

XIII 10 , 13 , XVII 56 , XVIII140 , XX , 88 , 2 5 1, XXI 3 7 ,XXII 12 3 , 12 5, XXIII 1 17 ,

122 , 12 6, XXIV 184 , XXVI7 7 , XXVII 2 9, XXVIII 17 7 ,XXX 12 7 .

Feru la , fenn e l gian t , Ferulacommun is , VI 20 3 , VII 198 ,XII 12 7 , XIII 12 2—12 6, XV

25, 117 , XVI 17 9 , XIX 175 ,

50 8

XX 2 60 , XXI 54 , 80 , XXII9 7 , XXIV 2 , XXVI 13 5 .

Feru la in XII 126 is Ferulaga lbaniflua and in XII 12 8 isH eracleum spondy lium.

Ferus oculus . See Fe li s oculus .

Ficus , fig—tree , u sua l ly Ficuscarica , VII 2 1, VIII 209 , X 3 2 ,XI 17 , 118, XII 22—24 , 3 4 , 3 8,40 , XIII 49 , 5 1, 56, 58 , 13 8,XIV 102 , 1 3 3 , XV 4 3 , 60 ,66 , 68—72 , 74 , 7 7 , 8 1—83 , 109 ,110 , 116, 117 , 186, XVI 84 ,90 , 116—118 , 12 1, 12 6 , 12 7 ,128 , 13 0 , 13 7 , 18 1, 186, 209 ,24 1, XVII 67 , 84 , 87 , 88, 89 ,95 , 96, 100 , 10 3 , 112 , 113 , 118,119 , 120 , 12 1, 12 3 , 13 7 , 154 ,155, 200 , 22 1, 2 22 , 2 2 3 , 2 25 ,2 3 1, 2 3 3 , 2 3 8 , 24 1, 2 42 , 244 ,247 , 2 5 3 , 255—256 , 258 , 259 ,2 60 , 2 61, 2 63 , XVIII 17 , 188,24 3 , 245 , XIX 156, XX 52 ,12 7 , 129 , 13 6, 178, 180 , 2 3 7 ,2 3 8, 250 , XXI 82 , 108 , XXII9 7 , 10 3 , 120 , 122 , 12 3 , 157 ,158 , XXIII 2 5 , 2 6, 64 , 80 ,117—13 0 , 13 5 , 14 9 , XXIV 16 ,3 0 , XXV 12 1, XXVI 2 1 , 2 3 ,29 , 6 3 , 65, 75, 7 6 , 9 3 , 159 ,XXVII 4 9 , 5 1, XXVIII 126 ,186, XXIX 59 , 102 , 10 6,XXX 3 2 , XXXI 116, 118, 119,XXXIV 13 3 . XXXVI 18 1.

Th e Indian ficus (VII 2 1, XII2 2 ) is the banyan , Ficusbengha lens is ; a second type ,ca ll ed pa la (XII 24 ) is the

banana , Ill usa paradis ia ca a

third typ e , unnamed is

the mango, M angif era ind ica ;the Idaean ficus of the Troad

(XV 68 ) is perhaps the snowpear, Pyrus n iva lis , or the

ame lanchier , Amelanchier vu l

yaris ; and the fi cus A egypt ia

is the camb - tree , Cera tonia

INDEX OF PLANTS

siliqua (XIII 59 ) and syca

more - fig , Ficus sycamorus

(XIII The fi cus de

scribed as a seaweed (XIII13 8 ) is perhaps an a lcyonid ian

pol

Filix fe lix , fern .

Flamma Iov is , possibly Agros

temma corona ria , XXVII 44 .

Flammeum ph lox , XXI 64 .

F los Iov is , Jov e ’

s flower , Agrostemma flos Jovis , XXI 59 , 67 .

Forensis , a kind of grape , XIV4 2 .

Frage , s trawberry , Fragaria

v esca , XV 98, XXI 86, XXV109 .

Fraxinus , ash - tree , Fraxinus

excelsior , XI 7 7 , XIII 117 , XV67 , XVI 62—64 , 69 , 74 , 8 3 ,106 , 2 10 , 2 19 , 22 8, 229 , 2 3 0 ,XVII 67 , 78 , 8 1, 15 1, 200 ,XVIII 2 40 , XXII 95, XXIV4 6, XXV 7 1, XXIX 94 .

Frumen tum , in Pliny ’

8 t ime ,

usua l ly a generic term for

grain , occasiona l ly for wheat ,II 2 11, VII 64 , 19 1, XVI 4 9 ,176 , XVII 14 , 40 , 46, XVIII14 , 16, 4 8 , 49 , 5 1, 52 , 56, 58,59 , 60 , 6 1, 62 , 65, 67 , 69 , 70 ,7 1, 79 , 8 1, 88 ,10 1, 1 17 , 126,164 , 166, 170 ,196 , 198, 22 3 ,3 0 1—3 08, 3 2 2 ,

Frutex coriarius rhus ( I),XXIV 9 1.

Frutex sanguineus , corne l ,

9 1, 9 3 , 96, 9 7 ,140—157 , 163 ,188 , 19 1, 192 ,259 , 2 96, 298 ,3 4 1, XIX 79 ,

XXI 98, XXIV 158 , XXVIII2 8 , XXXII 3 5, XXXVII 20 1.

Cornus sanguinea , XVI 74 ,176.

Fucus marinus .

Fungus ,

usual lymushroom, tre e - fun

Agaricus , XIII 13 9 ,XVI 3 3 , 85, 208, XIX 3 8, 63 ,

Se e phycos.

sus .

XX 25 , 4 7 , 86, 94 , 13 2 , 2 3 6,XXI 12 6, 184 , XXII 3 1, 96100 , 108 , XXIII 4 3 , 65 , 115 ,159 , 162 , XXV 10 3 , 13 1,XXVI 13 5 , XXVII 50 , XXIX10 3 , XXXI 119 , XXXII 44 ,XXXVI 13 8.

50 9

Gabalium, Arabian aromatic

shrub , unknown , XII 99 .

Ga lbanum, ga lbanum , a gumresin obta ined f rom ga lbanumgiant f enn e l , F em la ga lbani

flua , XI 16 , XII 12 1, 126 ,XIII 9 , XV 8 , XIX 180 ,XXIV 12 , 2 1, 22 , XXXI 12 1.

Ga leobdo lon , brow nwort , S crophu la ria peregrina , XXVII 8 1.

Ga leopsis ga leobdolon , ibid.

Ga lion gale obdolon , ibid .

Ga llidraga , hairy teasel , Dipcacus pi losus , XXVII 89 .

Gelotophyl lis , Indian hemp, Can

na bis sa tiva , XXIV 164 .

Genista , greenweed , Genista tinctoria or pi losa , XVI 74 , 176 ,

XVII 1 3 6, XVIII 240 , XIX15 , XXI 5 1 , 72 , 82 , XXIV 65 .

Gen t iana , gent ian , some species

of Gentiana , XIV 111, XXV7 1, 100 , 14 2 , XXVI 2 9 , 3 2 ,3 6, 74 , 13 7 , 140 , 16 3 , XXXII54 .

Geranion , crane’s bil l , Geranium

sp. , XIX 3 6 , XXVI 10 8 , 158 ,160 . In XXVI 108 the first

type is probab ly roundJeafed

crane’

s bi ll , G. rotundifolium,

or perhaps a specie s of heron’

s

bill, such as Erodium ma la

choides , and the second is

probably tuberous crane ’

s bil l ,G . tuberosum.

Gethyon (ge tion , get ium, geth

yum) , long onion , v ariant

of A l lium cepa , XIX 100 , 105 ,107 , 117 , 118, 12 1, 18 1, 183 .

INDEX OF PLANTS

G eum , av ens , Geum sa tivum,

XXVI 3 7G ingidion , French carrot , Dau

c-

us gingidium, XX 3 3 .

Git , Roman coriander , N ige l lasa tiva , XIX 168 , XX 182—184 ,XXVII 12 1. See Melanthion .

G ladio lus , corn—flag, G la diolussegetum, XXI 65 , 10 7 , 108 ,111, 115. In XXI 111 Plinyspeaks of another gladioluscypiros .

C lans , acorn , as in XXIV 7 ; bu tglan s faginea , beechnu t , as in

XXIV 14 .

G lastum , greenweed , Genis ta

tinctoria , XXII 2 .

Glaucion , greater ce landine , Che

lidonium gla ucium , XXVII 8 3 .

In XX 20 6 it is the horned

poppy , G lauciumfiavum.

G laux eugalacton , w artcress ,

Coronopus procumbens ,

XXVII 82 .

G linon , a kind of maple , A cer

creticum, XVI 67 .

Glycyrrhiz a , liquorice , Glycyr

rhiz a glabra and echina ta , XI

284 , XXII 2 4 , XXVIII 97 .

In XXI 9 1 an error for

onecos , s .v .

G lycyside , peony , Pa eonia ofiîcina lis , XXV 29 , XXVII 84

8 7 .

Gnaphalion , cotton -weed , Diotis

ma ri tima , XXVII 88 .

Gossipion , cot ton—tree , Gossypium arboreum. See Appendix

p. 546 (XIX a lso Gossypinus and Arbor lanigera .

Gossypinus goss ipion , XII

3 9 .

Gramen , grass , particu larlydog

’

s tooth gra ss , Cynodon

dacty lon , . XVII 89 , XVIII259 , XIX 98 , XXII 8 , XXIV17 8—18 3 , XXVII 113 .

v it is nigra .

Granatum , pomegrana te , Punicagrana tum, XIII 9 , 10 , 112 ,

XV 115 , XVI 84 , 8 6 , XX 149 ,XXVI 4 9 .

Gromphaena , perhaps a kind of

amaranth , Amaranthus tri

color , XXVI 40Gynaecan the

XXIII 2 7 .

H abrotonum, southem w ood ,

A rtemisia a rbores cens , XIII12 , XIV 105 , XIX 100 , XX68 , XXI 3 7 , 59 , 60 , 6 1, 160

162 , 168 , 170 .

H adrobolon , b lack gum of tree

bde l lium , XII 3 5.

H adrospha erum, type of nardus ,XII 4 4 .

H aemodorum, broom—rape ,

Orobanche cruenta or caryo

phylla cea , XIX 17 6 .

H a licacabum —os , - us ), ( I)v esicaria , XXI 17 7 ; ( 2 )s trawberry tomato , Physa lisa lkekengi , XXI 180 , 182 ,XXII 112 . In XXI 180 it isa s leepy n igh t shad e , a lsoca l led moly and morion .

H a limon , sea orache , A trip lexha limus , XVII 2 3 9 , XXII7 3 .

H a liphloeos , sea - bark oak , Quercus pseudosuber , XVI 24 .

H a lmyr is , sea fenne l , Crambemaritima , XIX 14 2 .

H a lus , perhaps com frey , S ym

phytum oflîcina le , XXVI 4 2 .

Fée says Montpe lier coris ,Ceris monspe liens is , others

se lf heal , Prune lla vu lgaris , orcommon hyssop, Hyssopus

ofiici-

na lis . See a lso A lum .

H arundo , reed , the genus

A rundo, VII 2 1, 206, VIII 96,IX 56, X 9 , 84 , XI 14 , 3 2 ,XII 3 2 , 124 , XIII 122 , XVI

INDEX OF PLANTS

H e lv ia , a kind of grape- v ine ,

XIV 4 6 .

H e lv ola , a kind of grape , XIV 29.

H e lxin e , VIII 10 1, XXI 94 , 96,XXII 4 1, 4 2 ,XXV 92

XXVII 2 3 , XXVIII 2 20 ,

XXX 7 7 .

( I) A thist le , A tracty lisgummif era , XXI 94 .

( 2 ) sea - side knotwe ed , Polygonum maritimum, XII 4 1.

( 3 ) pe l litory , Parietaria oj icina lis , VIII 10 1.

(4 ) Convolvu lus a rv ensis in

Diosc . W . , and poss ib lyin some passages in Pliny .

H emeris , u sual ly the ga l l - oak,Qu ercus inf ectoria , XVI 2 2 , 2 6 .

H emeroca lles , Martagon lily ,

Li liummar tagon , XXI 59 , 158 .

H emion ion , sca le fem , A splen

ium ceterach , XXV 4 5, XXVI4 1, XXVII 3 4 .

H eptapleuron plan tago , XXV

80 .

H eracle on origanum heracleo

t icum, XXV 3 2 ; heracleon- ion ) siderion , Cre tan fig

-wort ,S crophu la ria lucida ,

XXV

3 4 , XXVI 140 ; nymphaea ,

XXV 7 5 .

H eracleus pyros li thospermon ,

XXVII 98 .

H eraclion , wild purs lane , Eu

phorbia pep lis , XX 20 7 ; a

type of panacee , XXVI 1 13 .

H eraclium , see origanum , XX

17 7— 180 .

H erba Fu lv iana , un identifled ,

XXVI 88 .

H erba lactaria t ithyma lus ,XXVI 62 .

H erba lanaria , probab lyradicu la , s .v . , XXIV 168 . Cf .

XIX 4 8 , XXV 52 .

H erba Sabina bra thy , XXIV102 . Se e a lso XXIX 10 3 .

asphodelus , XXII

H erba Scy th ica . See Scy th ica .

H ermupoa linoz ost is , XXV3 8 .

B oroum67 .

H esperis , night- scen ted s tock ,

M a tthiola tristis , XXI 3 9 .

H estiat eris , areca nut , froma reca -

pa lm , A reca ca techu ,

XX IV 165 .

H exastichas , a type of myr t le ,perhaps M yrtus angustif oliaboetica , XV 122 .

Hi beris . See Iberis .

H ibiscum - us ) , marsh—mal low ,

A lthaea ofil cina lis , XIX 89 ,XX 29 , XXVI 2 1.

Hi eracion , hawkweed , the largetype Urospermum picroides ,the sma l l type Hymenonema

graecum, XX 60 .

H ippace , in XXV 8 3 a Scythian

h erb ; usua l ly mare’s milk

cheese , as in XI 284 ,XXVIII 13 1, 204 .

H ippolapathum, horse - son e ] ,Rumex aqua ticus , XX 2 3 2.

H ippomarathum , horse - fenne l ,Prangos f eru la cea , XX 255 ,258 , XXI 54 .

H ippophaes , see t ithyma lus ,XXI 9 1, XXII 29 .

ippophaeston , a knapweed ,

Centa urea spinosa , XVI 244 ,XXVII 92 .

H ippopheos , a spurge , Euphor

bia acan thothamnos , XXI 9 1

XXVI 55. It is

w rongly iden t ified by Plinyw ith epithymum .

H ippoph lomos wh ite—rootedmandragoras , perhaps dead lynight shade , A tropa belladonna ,

XXV 148.

H ipp0phobas , horse - f ear ,fabulous plan t , XXIV 16 1.

H ipposelinum, a lexanders ,

INDEX OF PLANTS

S rnyrnium olusa trum, XIX124 , 162 , XX 117 , XXI 24 .

H ippur is , horsetail , E quisetumarvense or maximum, XXVI13 2 , 13 3 , 158 .

H ircu lus , unknow n , XII 4 6.

H olcus , mouse - barley , H ordeummurinum, XXVII 90 .

H olochrysos , perhaps ca ssidony ,

H elichrysum stoechas , XXI

H oloschoenus , c lub - rush ,

S cirpus holoschoenus , XXI1 13 , 119 .

H olosteon , a l l - bon e , PlantagoB ellardi , XXVII 9 1.

H orconia , a kind of grape—v ine ,

XIV 3 5.

H ordeum , barley , H ordeum dis

tichum, H . vu lgare, and H .

hexastichum, VI 158 , VIII 2 3 ,XIII 117 , 13 0 , 13 2 , XVII 3 1,54 , 56, 2 60 , XVIII 49—5 1, 56,58 , 60—62 , 7 1, 72—74 , 75 , 78

80 , 98 , 100 , 10 3 , 142 , 146, 149 ,15 1, 152 , 155, 156, 164 , 165 ,166, 184 , 19 1, 192 , 198 , 202 ,250 , 2 95 , 2 99 , 3 04 , XIX 169 ,XX 20 , 3 9 , 8 1, 88 , 13 5 , 13 9 ,167 , 17 3 , 179 , 180 , XXI 161,XXII 10 3 , 12 1, 122 , 124 , 12 6,13 4— 13 6, 16 1, XXIII 3 , 63 ,78 , 12 3 , XXIV 2 9 , 3 9 , 55 , 62 ,97 , 14 9 , 186 , XXV 55 , 146,156 , XXVI 8 3 , 85 , 90 , 159 ,XXVII 2 4 , 90 , 97 , 108 , 13 7 ,XXVIII 8 1 , 13 7 , 166, 18 3 ,206 , 2 64 , XXIX 40 , 14 3 ,XXX 3 8 , 75 , 97 , 113 , 12 2 ,XXXI 63 , 10 3 , XXXII 3 6,7 8 , 110 , 13 7 , XXXIII 108 ,XXXIV 170 , XXXV 18 1.

H ordeum murinum phoe

nicea , XXII 13 5 . Perhapsmouse—bar ley , H ordeum murinum.

Horminos , a kind of wild as

VOL. VII.

51 3

paragus , perhaps A sparagus

acutifolius , XIX 15 1.

H orminum , c lary , S a lv ia hor

minum, XVIII …49 , 96 , XXII159 .

H yacin thus , corn- flag , Gladiolus

segetum, XXI 3 4 , 65 , 66 , 67 ,170 , XXV 129 , XXVI 146.

In XXI 170 S ci lla bifolia .

O ther plants may be inc luded ,

bu t nev er our hyacin th .

Hydrolapathon , water sorre l ,a species of Rumex , perhaps

R . aqua ticus , XX 2 3 1.

H yoscyamus , henbane , H yos

cyamus n iger , XV 3 0 , XX25 , 50 , 184 , 19 3 , 20 3 , 2 10 ,XXI 12 7 , XXII 3 1, 72 , 112 ,124 , XXIII 94 , XXV 3 5 , 3 7 ,104 , 142 , 164 , 165, XXVI 2 7 ,4 1 , 76, 89 , 100 , 105 , 152 ,XXVIII 74 , 158 , 2 56,XXXIV 126.

Hyoseris , swine ’

s chicory ,

hawksbeard , Crepis neglecta ,

XXVII 90 .

H ypecoò n , horn ed cumin ,

H ypecoumprocumbens , XXVII93 .

Hypelat e , a type of laurel ,Laurus nobilis, XV 13 1.

Hype ricon , S t . John’

s wort ,Hypericum crispum or reva lutum, XII 1 18 , XXVI 85 , 86 ,90 , 1 17 , 119 , 129 , 13 0 , 158 ,164 , XXVII 2 6 , 3 7 .

Hyphear , mist le toe , Viscum a l

bum, XVI 120 , 245 .

H ypochoeris , cat’

s ear, Hypo

choeris radica ta , XXI 89 .

H ypocis this , hypocis t , Cytinus

hypocis tis , XX 20 8 , XXIV8 1, 120 , XXVI 4 9 , 8 1, 145 ,160 , XXVIII 17 7 , 2 19 .

ypoge son , a house - leek ,S emperv ivum tectorum, XVIII159 , XXV 160 .

INDEX OF PLANTS

H ypoglossa ,d ouble - tongue , Rus

cus hypoglossum , XXVII 9 3 .

H ypoglott ion , a kind of laure l,Laurus , XV 1 3 1.

Hysopum (hyssopum ), perhapsa type of marj oram , Ori

ganum, but probably hyssop,

H yssopu s ofiicina lis , XIV ,109,

XX 2 8 , 13 6, 175 , 178 , 188,XXII 3 3 , 52 , XXIII 55 , 122 ,XXV 4 6, 13 6, 166, 175, XXVI

3 1, 3 2 , 3 4 , 40 , 4 1, 54 ,76, 114 , 124 , 12 7 , 144 , 160 ,164 , XXVII 13 1, XXVIII246, XXIX 103 , XXXI 98 ,100 , 10 3 , XXXII 13 1.

Iasine or 1as10 n e , hedge bind

we ed , Convolvu lus sepium,

XXI 105 , XXII 82 .

Iberis , pepperwort , Lepidium

graminif olium, XXV 87 , 88 ,13 4 , 14 3 , XXVI 45 , 100 ,112 .

Idaea , ( 1 ) a type of laur e l ,Laurus , XV 13 1 ; (2 ) prob .

ably e lecampane , Inu la he lenium, XIV 10 8 ; ( 3 ) perhapsa specie s of bu tcher

’

s broom ,

Ruscus hypoglossum, XXVII93 .

Idaeus rubus , raspberry bu sh ,

Rubus ida eus , XVI 180 ,XXIV 12 3 .

Ilex , holm - oak , Quercus i lex,

XIII 98 , 104 , XVI Il , 16, 19,2 5, 3 2 , 3 4 , 7 3 , 7 4 , 80 , 82 , 90 ,

9 1, 92 , 95 , 10 7 , 10 8 , 120 , 186,206, 229 , 2 3 0 , 2 3 1, 2 3 7 , 24 2 ,245 , XVII 55, 89 , 2 3 6, XIX2 7 , XXIV 7 .

Impia , perhaps French ev er

last ing, Gnapha lium ga llicum,

XXIV 17 3 .

Ingu ina lis argemonion, XXVI92 .

Inlecebra (illecebra )= andrachle

514

agria , w ild purslane , S edums te lla tum, XXV 162 , XXVI12 7 .

Intubus, generic term for

ch icory , Cichorium sp. , de

noting endiv e , C . endiv ia ,

when it is a cu lt iv ated form ,

XIX 12 3 , 129 , 185 , XX 65 ,7 3 , XXI 88, XXII 9 1, 144 ,

XXXVI 84 , XXXVII 90 .

Inu la , e lecampane , Inu la helenium, XIX 62 , 9 1—92 , 100 , XX3 8 .

Ion , a kind of v iolet , Viola

adora ta , XXI 64 .

Iphyon ,spike - lav ender, Lavan

du la spica , XXI 67

Irio , Iris pa l lida and hedge

mustard , S isymbrium polycera tium, XVIII 49 , 58

, 96,XXII 158 , XXV 3 5 , XXVI

Iris , iris , more especially Ger

man iris , Iris germanica and

I . pa l lida , XIIIXIV 128 , 13 5 , XV 3 0 , XX244 , XXI 3 9—4 2 , — 144 ,XXII 67 , XXIII 63 , - 122

152 , XXV 40 , 157 ,159 , XXVI 55 , 14 3 , 159 ,XXVII 49 , 104 XXVIII188 , XXX 127 , XXXI 116,

XXXII 10 1.

Isat is , woad , Isa tis tinctoria ,

XX 59 , XXVII 84 . It is

c la ssed by P liny among lac

tucae .

Ischaemon , a styp tic plan t ,perhaps Andropogon ischa e

mum, or manna grass , Panicum sanguina le, XXV 83 ,XXVI 13 1.

Ischa s , secondary name for

leucacantha , XXII 40 , u suallya type of fig.

Isocinnamon , a type of cassia ,

XII 98 .

INDEX OF PLANTS

Lappa canina , XXVI 105.

Lappa canaria , perhaps Lappa

canaria , XXIV 17 6 .

Lappago, a sort of bur , XXVI102 .

Lapeana , hoarymustard , H irsch

f eldia incana , XIX 144 , XX96 .

Larix , lamb - tree , Larix communis , XIII 100 , XVI 24 , 3 0 ,3 2 , 4 3 , 45 , 4 6, 48 , 49 , 58, 7 3 ,80 , 9 1, 95 , 100 , 12 5 , 12 7 , 186,187 , 190 , 195 , 200 , 204 , 2 12 ,2 18 , 2 19 , 2 22 , 245 , XXIV 28,3 2 , 13 6, XXVIII 195 .

Laser or laserpicium , th e resin

ou s juice of si lphium , s .v . ,

XVI 14 3 , XVII 2 59 , XVIII3 08 , XIX 3 8—4 8 , XX 3 4 , 56,80 , 90 , 14 1, XXII 10 1—106,XXXI 120 .

Latace , a magic herb , XXVI18 .

Lathyris , chickling v e tch , La thyrus sa tivus , XXVII 95 .

Laurus , bay , Lauru s nobi lis , II14 6 , VI 7 9 , VIII 10 1, X 157 ,XII 3 , 3 4 , 57 , 98 , XIII 10 ,118 , 13 9 , 14 1, XIV 112 , XV26 , 2 7 , 10 1, 113 , 115 ,12 6, 12 7— 13 8 , XVI 63 , 74 , 79 ,92 , 9 7 , 104 , 120 , 12 6 , 12 7 , 128,13 0 , 13 7 , 207 , 208 , 2 3 0 , 2 3 9 ,2 4 1, XVII 60 , 62 , 64 , 65 , 88,96 , 99 , 13 1, 15 1, 2 3 9 , 2 44 ,XVIII 19 , 16 1, XIX 166 , XX13 7 , 13 8 , 142 , 174 , 193 , XXIII86, 152—158 , XXIV 13 2 , 14 1,148 , XXVII 84 .

Lav er , perhaps water cre ss ,

Nasturtium ofi cina le , XXVI50 , 87 .

Leda , Cre tan rock orose , Cistus

creticus , XII 75 .

Ladanum = ladanum , XII 75 .

Ledon , plant leda ) inCyprus , from wh ich resin

SI6

Il

dendroides ,

( ladanum) w as obta in ed ,

XXVI 4 7 .

Lemonium , v .l . formolemonium,

XX V 108.

Len s , lent il , Ervum lens , XII12 9 , XIII 54 , 55 , XVI 20 1,XVIII 10 , 50 , 57 , 98 , 12 3 , 155 ,164 , 198 , 202 , 22 8 , 3 08 , XIX13 3 , XX 7 5, XXII 6 1, 14 2

14 7 , XXIV 59 , 1 3 4 , 155 , XXV59 , XXVI 3 2 , 84 , XXVII 3 0,XXVIII 209 . The lent icula(XVIII 12 3 , XX 7 1, 2 2 1,XXI 175, XXIV —109 , XXV13 5 , XXVI 44 , XXVII 3 8 , 82 ,12 1, 124 , 13 8 , 13 9 ) is probab lyv ar. microsperma .

Lent iscus , ma stio - tree , Pistacialentiscus , XII 56, 7 1, 72 , 12 1,XIII 9 , XIV 112 , 122 , XV2 1, 2 8, 10 1, 105 , XVI 55 ,XVII 2 56, 2 61, XVIII 2 28 ,244 , XXIII 89 , XXIV 3 2 , 3 6,42 , XXV 175 , XXVIII 15 1,

2 3 2 , XXXII 57 , XXXIV 13 3 .

See a lso Mastiche .

Leo , unknown tre e , XIII 119 .

Leon tice caca lia , XXV 13 5 .

Le ontope ta lon , lion ’

s lea f , Leontice leontopeta lum , XXVII 96 .

Le ontopod ion , probab ly lion ’

s

leaf , Leon tice leontop eta lurn ,

XXVI 52 , 128 , 145.

Lepidium , dit tander , Lepidiumla tif olium, XIX 166 , XX 18 1.

Lepton cen taurium minus ,XXV 68 .

Leptophyllos

XXVI 7 1.

Leucacan tha , mi lk thist le , S i lybum marianum, XXII 40 ;in XXVII 124 a secondaryname for pha langitis .

Leucacanthos —us ) , mi lk - thi st le ,S i lybum marianum, XXI 94 ,XXVII 89 .

Leucanthemis , a species of

INDEX OF PLANTS

chamomile ,Anthemis ,XXIl 53 .

Leucanth emum , ( l ) chamomile ,a species of Anthemis , XXII5 3 ; ( 2 ) se condary name for

pha langit is , XXVII 124 ; ( 3 )a plant with a scen t like that

of habrotonum, XXI 60 and

probab ly XXI 163 .

Leucanthes , pe l l itory , Parietariaofi cina lis , XXI176 , XXVII 89 .

Leu ca s or leuce , white dead

ne t tle , Lamium a lbum , XXVII10 2 . In XIX 82 leuce is

secondary name for armoracia .

Leuceoron leon t 0 podion ,

XXVI 52 .

Leucocomus , a kind of pome

granate , Punica granatum,

XIII 1 13 .

Leucographis , a. this t le , Carduus

leucographus , XXVII 10 3 .

Libadion centaurium minus ,XXV 68.

Libanodes , a kind of grape- v ine ,

XIV 117 .

Libanotis , Lecokia eretica , XX172 ; in XIX 187 and XXIV10 1 apparent ly rosemary ,

Rosmarinus oflicina lis . In

XXI 58 root of ma lecony z a . See a lso XXVI 82 .

Lichen , not our l ich en , bu t

perhaps common liv erwort ,Ill archantia polymorpha , and

hl s te l la ta . Some authorit ie s

think that in XXIII 13 3

P liny has con fused the d iseaselichen with a gum supposed

to cure it , XXVI 22 , 124 .

Ligusticum , lov age , Levis ticumofi cina le , XIX 165, XX 168,187 .

Ligustrum , ( 1 ) priv e t , Ligustrumvu lga re , XVI 7 7 ; (2 ) wronglyapplied to the henna -

plan t ,Law sonia inermis , XII 109,XXIV 74 .

a broom - rape ,Orobanche

marrub ium ,

51 7

Lilium , white lily , Lilium candi

dum, XIII XV 3 1, XVI154 , XXI 22—26 , 3 7 , 64 , 67 ,68 , 70 , XXV 40 ,76, 170 , XXVI 9 7 , XXVII 118,124 , XXVIII 22 3 , 2 3 5 , XXX50 , 110 , XXXII 40 , 109 .

Limeum , a poisonous plant ,XXVII 10 1

Limodoron ,

strangleweed ,

cru enta , XIX 176 .

Limon ia , golden this t le , S colymus hispanicus , XXII 86 . In

XXI 65 a kind of anemone .

Limonion - um ) , wi ld bee t , Betama ritima , XX 72 .

Lingua . Some say hart’

s tongue

f ern , S colopendrium v u lgare,or Lingua cervina , but prob

ab ly iden tica l with lingulaca ,

XXIV 170 .

Lingua bov is , probab ly bu

bu la , XXVII 6 1.

Lingua bubu la , Ita lian a lkanet ,A nchusa ita lica , XVII 112 .

Lingulaca , a but tercup, perhaps

grea t spear—wort , Ranuncu lus

lingua , XXV 13 3

Lin ostrophon

XX 24 1 .

Linoz ostis , annua l mercury ,

M ercuria lis annua , and perennia l mercury , M . perenn is ,XXV 3 8—4 1, XXVI 12 1, 124 ,150 .

Linum , flax , b inum usita tissi

mum and L . angustifolium,

VII 196 , X 96 , XVII 56 ,XVIII 7 3 , 108 , 165 , 205 , 229 ,XIX 2—25 , XX 164 , 194 , 20 7 ,2 12 , 249 , XXI 15 1, XXII 3 3 ,12 5 , XXIV 65 , 13 9 , 186,XXV —129 , XXVII 74 , 111,XXVIII 6 1, 7 9 , XXX 52 , 55 ,90 , 10 7 , XXXI 99 , XXXIV12 7 , XXXVII 202 . In XIII

INDEX OF PLANTS

114 it means th e seed of the

thyme laea .

Lithospermon , gromwe l l , In'

tho

spe-

rmum oflìcina le, XXVII 98.

Lolium , darn el , Lolium temulen

tum, XVIII 15 3 , XXII 160 .

Lonchi t is , wood - f em , A spidiumlinguum, or holly - f ern , A .

lonehi tis , XXV 13 7 , XXVI76, 119.

Lotome tra , a mea l made fromth e seed s of th e wh ite lotus ,Nymphaea lotus , and the b luelotus , N . caeru lea , XXII 5 6.

Lotos ( 1) As a t erm f or a tre e ,

probab ly origina lly denoted

the Jew th orn , Ziz yphus lotus ,lat er ex tended to the n e t t letree , Ce ltis austra lis , and e v en

to the d ov e - tree of India ,

Eugenia ca ryophylla ta (XIIJew thorn and net t le

tree confused in XIII 104

10 6 ; Jew thorn ment ioned

in XIV 10 1 (shrub ) ; ne t t let ree ment ioned or d escribed

in XIV 10 1 (tree ), XV 10 1

(bore berries ) , XVI 2 3 5 , 2 3 6 ,

XVII 5 (grew a t Rome ) ,XXIV 6 (grew in Syria ), XV1 16 (grew in Egypt and Meso

potamia ), XIII 6 1, XVI 172

(w ood used for flutes ) , XVI186, 204 , 2 12 (wood d e

scribed ). (2 ) Th e herb lotosis usua l ly a t re foil , perhapse spe cia l ly Trif olium f ragi

ferum (XIII 10 7 , XIV 10 1,XXI 3 4 , 99 , 10 3 , XX IV bu t

somet imes the tre foil Lotuscornicu la tus (XXI 3 4 , XXII

( 3 ) The Egypt ian lotosin Pliny (XIII 10 7—1 10 , XXII5 6, XX IV 6 ) is the wh it e lotus ,Nympha ea lotus , and the b luelotus , N . caeru lea , althoughe lsewhere it is somet imes the

518

Macir, red bark of the root of

an Indian tree , probab lyH olarrhena an tidysenterica ,

XII 3 2Mados v it is a lba , XXIII 2 1.

Magydaris , ( 1) the s ta lk (more

exact ly the lea f—like seed ) of

Indian lotus , Nelumbonucif era . (4 ) Th e lotos used

as an ingredien t in an un

guen t (XIII 18 ) is of uncert a iniden t ity .

Lupinus , lupin , especially Lupinus hirsutus , L . a lbus , and L.

te -

rmis , XII 3 8 , XIII 14 1, XV3 0 , XVII 54 , 55, 56, 2 60 , 2 66 ,XVIII 4 7 , 50 , 5 7 , 59 , 125 ,13 3—13 6, 16 3 , 185 , 187 , 198,2 52 , 2 57 , 3 04 , XX 20 , XXII154—157 , XXIII 75 , 94 ,XXXII 87 , XXXV 10 2 .

Lupus sa lictarius , perhaps hop,

Humu lus lupu lus , XXI 86.

Lu tum , we ld , dyer’

s weed , Re

seda luteola , XXXIII 87 , 9 1 .

Lycapsos , v iper’

s h erb , Echiumita licum, XXVII 9 7 .

Lychn is , rose - campion , Lychn is

corona ria , XXI 18 , 67 , 17 1

XXV 68 ; lychnis agris.

ant irrhinum , XXV 129 .

Lychni t is , the th ird type of

ph lomis , s .v . , XXV 12 1 .

Lycium , a juice obtain ed fromthe buck—thorn , Rhamnus lyeioides , XII 3 1, XXII 25

XXIII 109 , XXIV124—126, XXVI 164 . See

a lso Pyxacanthus chironius .

Lygos v itex , XXIV 59.

Lynx ,unknow n plan t , XXXVII

3 4 .

Lyron a lisma , XXV 124 .

Lysimachia , purple loosestrife ,I/ ythrum sa lica ria , XXV 72 ,100 , XXVI 1 3 1, 14 1, 147 , 164 .

INDEX OF

Marrubium (marruv ium ), horehound , M arrubium vu lgareand M . peregrinum, XIV 105 ,XX 118 , 24 1—244 , XXII 4 1,

XXV 4 3 , XXVI 9 3 .

Massaris , a product of th e

flowe r clus ters of th e labrusca ,

XII 13 3 , XXIII 2 , 9 .

Mastiche , mast ich , Pistacialen tiscus , XII 7 2 , XXIV 4 2 ,

XXXVII 5 1.Mastos , un know n , XXVI 16 3 .

Mecon l ) usua l ly a generic termfor poppy , Papaver , e specia l lyP somnif erum ; (2 ) in XX 209

tithyma lus . Mecon aphro

de s ( 1) usua l ly the frothy“

poppy , S i lene v enosa , as in

XX 207 ; in XXVII 119 sma l lpurple spurge , Euphorbia pe

p lis , conf usedwith a poppy be

caus e oi its juice . Some t imes

ca l led heraclion .

Mecon ion peplis , XXVII 119 ;a product of the mecon ,

XXIII 4 3 , 6 1, 80 , XXV 14 3 .

Mccomis , probab ly acrid let tuce ,

Lactuca v irosa … XIX 12 6, XX67 .

Medica , luce rne , M edicago sa tiva ,

XVIII 144— 14 8 ; in XIV 108

probab ly e lecampane , Inu lahe lenium.

Medion , perhaps a be llflow er,

such as Campanu la lingula ta ,

or perhaps Convolvu lus a l

thaeoides , XXVII 104 .

Me lamphyllum paed eros ,XXII 7 6.

Melampodion , black type of

he lleborum , XXV 4 7 .

Me lancranis , bog—rush , S choenus

nigrica ns , XXI 112 .

Me lan ion , perhaps by error for

me lan thion , otherwise v iolet ,Viola adora ta , XXI 65 .

Me lan thion - um ), Roman cori

5m

PLANTS

ae thiopis , XXIV 163 .

ander , Nigella sa tiva , XX 182 ,XXIII 67 , XXVIII 188 , 2 17 ,XXXI 84 , XXXIII 85 , XXXV185 an themis , XXII 5 3 .

Me laspermon me lanthion ,

XX 182 .

Me lilotos , an aromat ic f enu

greek , Trigone l la graeca , XIII13 , XV 3 0 , XXI 3 9 , 5 3 , 6 3 ,

70 , 15 1, XXII 12 3 , 142 ,XXIII 85 , XXIX 3 7 .

Me lime lum , of ten a type of

quince , bu t in XV 5 1, 59 ,XXIII 104 a type of apple ,Ill a lus domestica .

Me lissophy l lum , ba lm , M e lissaofilcina lis , XX 1 16, XXI 5 3 ,70 , 82 , 14 9—150 , XXVII 13 4 .

See a lso Apiastrum .

Me lit taena me lissophy l lum,

XXI 14 9 .

Me lopepo , perhaps the me lon ,

Cucumis me lo, XIX 67 .

Me lothron (me lotrum ) , bryony ,

Bryonia eretica , XXI 5 3 ,XXIII 2 1.

Memaecy lon , fruit of the s traw

berry- tree , A rbu tus unedo, XV

99 .

Men ta , usua lly water m int ,.Mentha a qua tica , some t imes

such simi lar spe cie s as S a tureiaca lamin tha , XIX 100 , 159 ,

176, 17 7 , XX 4 4 ,— 151,

19 1, XXI 3 8, XXII 126,

XXIII 144 , XXIV 13 0 ,XXVI 12 1.

Men ta strum , usua lly horse m in t.Ill entha s ilvestris , XIV 105 ,XIX 12 3 , 159 , XX 124 , 144

146 , XXV 6 3 .

Mercuria lis , annua l mercury ,

M ercuria lis annua , and peren.

n ia l mercury , M . perennis ,

XXV 3 8 , XXVII 102 , XXIX80 .

Merois

INDEX OF PLANTS

Mesa , a kind of cannab is , XIX174 .

Mesoleucon , secondary name

for leuce , XXVII 102 .

esosphaerum , type of nardus ,XII 4

Mespila , generic term for v arious

thorn trees . In XV 84 the

se tania is the med lar, M es

pi lus germanica ; the an

thedon is the O rien ta l thorn ,

Craeta egus orien ta lis ; and

the one similar to it , ca l ledGa llie , is the oxyacan th , C.

oxyacantha . Se e XIV 10 3 ,XV 65 , 84 , 1 12 , 1 15 , XVII 5 9 ,67 , 22 1, 23 0 , XXI 88 , XXIII14 1.

Me t0 pium , the gum of the me to

pon , XII 12 3 , XIII 6 , 8.

Me topon , an A frican tree f romwh ich the gum hammon ia

cum is dist il led , XII 107 .

Me t t ica , a kind of grape—v ine ,

XIV 3 5 .

Meum , bear—wort , spign e l ,M eum a thamanticum, XX25 3 , 2 64 .

Microsphaerum , type of nardus ,XII 44 .

Milax . See Smilax .

M il iaria , herb injurious to mil le t ,XXII 16 1.

Mil itaris lactoris , XXIV 168 .

Milium , common mil le t , Pan icum mi liaceum, XI 112 , XIII108 , XIV 10 1, XV 6 3 , XVIII4 9 , 50 , 52 , 5 3 , 54 , 60 , 6 1, 74 ,96, 99 , 100 , 10 1, 102 , 158 , 160 ,163 , 182 , 185 , 19 1, 192 , 198,250 , 2 59 , 297 , 2 99 , 3 04 , 3 07 ,XXII 56 116 , 13 0 ,XXV 83 . The rnilium intro

duced in to Ita ly from Ind ia

(XVIII 55 ) is a type of

sorghum , perhaps common

sorghum , S orghum vu lgare.

52 1

Millefolium , ( 1) a se condaryname for Achilleos , XXV 42 ;

(2 ) La tin t erm for myriophyllon , XXIV 152 ( 3 )men t ioned ,

XXIV 176 , XXVI 78 ; (4 ) inB ioso. W . , a type of

Parietaria or Chrysan themum.

Mintha . See Men ta .

Minyan thes , treacle c lov er,Psora lea bituminosa , XXI 54 ,152 .

M inyas , mag10 herb , XXIV157 .

Misy , truiile , Tuber aestivumor T . niveum, XIX 3 6.

Mithridat ia , probably E rythroni

um deus canis, XXV 62 , 127 .

Molemonium , a plan t that produces v omit ing , XXV 10 8 ;XXVI 40 .

Mol lugo , a kind of lappago,XXVI 10 2 .

Moloche agria h ibiscum , XX

29 .

Molon syron , XXVI 3 3 ,iden t ified by many with mo ly .

Moly , perhaps A l lium nigrum ,

XXV 26, 12 7 , but in XXI 180 ,

s leepy n igh tshade , Withaniasomnif era .

Molybdaena plumbago , leadwort , P l -

umbago europaea ,

XXV 155 .

Morion , ( l ) white type of man

dragoras , perhaps A tropa be l ladonna , XXV 14 8 , (2 ) s le epyn igh t shade , Withan ia somnif era , XXI 180 , XXV 148 .

Morus , mu lberry - t re e , Ill orus

nigra and M . a lba , XIII »56,XV 52 , 96 , 9 7 , 10 1, 109 , 113 ,1 16 , XVI 2 8 , 74 , 8 3 , 102 , 119 ,182 , 186 , 20 7 , 2 10 , 2 18 , 2 27 ,

XVII 124 , 13 6 , XVIII 253 ,XXI 18 3 , XXIV 120 , 122 ,XXVII 57 , XXX 2 3 , XXXIV13 3 . But morum denotes

INDEX OF PLANTS

either a mu lberry or a blackberry XV 97 , XXIV

The Egyptian morus

(XXIII 13 4—13 6 ) is the

sycamore , Ficus sycamorus .

Mura lis , pe l litory , Parietariaofi ìcina lis , XXI 17 6.

Murra (some times myrra ),myrrh or th e tree tha t pro

duces it , Ba lsamodendron

myrrha , VI 174 , XII 3 3 , 5 1,66—7 1, 8 1, XIII 8, 15 ,16, XIV 9 1, 92 ,13 4 , XIX 162 , 187 , 188 , XX164 , 2 12 , 249 , 25 1, XXI 3 8 ,13 1, XXIII 10 9 , 13 6, 13 9 ,XXIV 2 2 , 86, 164 , 166 , 179 ,XXV 4 1, 17 5 , XXVI 8 1, 109 ,154 , 159 , XXVII 85 , 13 0 , 13 3 ,XXVIII 118, 120 , 174 , 175 ,179 , 2 14 , 24 5 , XXIX

'

115 , 13 7 , XXX 2 4 , 87 , 88 , 93 ,105 , 116, 140 , 145 , XXXI 100 ,XXXII 10 1, XXXIV 15 3 ,XXXV 18 1.

Muscus , generic t erm for moss ,

e sp. sphagnum , X 9 6 , XIX24 , XXVI 22 , 105 , XXVII 69 ,100 .

Musteum , quince , Cydonia vul

garis , XV 3 8 .

Myacarithus , . a kind of wilda sparag us , perhaps A sparagus

acu tif olius , XIX 15 1.

Myagros , ba l l -mustard , Nes liapanicula ta , XXVII 106 .

Myoctonos'

aconi tum , XXVII9 .

Myophonon , wo lf ’s bane , A eon

i tum anthora , or perhaps

A lyssum sa tivum, XXI 54 .

Myosota or myosot is , mad

wort , A sperugo procumbens ,

XXVII 2 3 , 105 .

Myosoton a lsin e , XXVII 2 3 .

Myrice , tamarisk, Tamarix tet

randra or T . articu la ta , XIII

116, XXIV 64 ;XXIV 67 .

Myri0 phy llon , w at-sr -mil foil,M yriophyllum spicatum,

XXIV 152 .

Myroba lanum, haben - nut and

the tree , M oringa oleif era .

O il of ben is extracted fromthe fruit , XII 100—10 3 , XIII18 , XX III 98 .

Myrra = myrri s , XXIV 154 ;murra , VI 174 .

Myrris , swe e t cice ly , M yrrhisadora ta , XXIV 154 ; geran

ion or myr t ida s , XXVI 108.

Myrriz a myrris , XXIV 154 .

Myrsineum f en iculum sil

v estre , wild f enn e l , XX 2 55 .

Myrt idanum , an excrescence

on the stem of the myrt le ,

XIV 104 , XV 118, XXIII

164 .

Myrt ida s (perhaps be t ter mer

t ryx , cf . D iose . W . )

geranion , XXVI 108 .

Myr tites , a type of spurge , per

haps Euphorbia myrs inites ,XXVI 66—67 .

Myrtopeta lum - s ) , a kind of

polygonus , XXVII 113 .

Myr tus , myr t la tree , M yrtuscommunis , XII 3 , 2 9 , 76, 112 ,115 , 12 1, XIII 9 , 10 , 18, 52 ,105 , .

114 , XIV 104 , XV 2 7 , 3 4 ,10 1, 109 , 1 18—126, XVI 74 , 79,90 , 92 , 1 12 , 12 1, 13 7 , 2 3 4,XVII 62 , 88 , 95 , 96, 12 3 , 124 ,257 , XX 158 , XXI 69 , XXII13 9 , 144 , XXIII 87 , 159— 166,XXIV 6, 165, XXV 159—166,175, XXVI 42 , 66, 12 1,XXVII 9 3 , 126 , XXVIII 8 1,13 7 , 194 , 20 7 , 20 9 , 2 60 , XXIX10 6, 10 8 , XXX 56, 105 ,140 , XXXII 3 0 , XXXIII110 , XXXIV 13 3 , XXXV116, 160.

INDEX OF PLANTS

for a part icu lar kind of -

nut ,

usua l ly wa lnut , Juglans regia ;

( 3 )mux abe llana , see Abe llana

(4 ) nux amara , almond ,

Prunus amygda lus , XX 185 ,188 , 195 ; (5 ) nux basi licaiuglans , XV (6 ) mux cas

tanea , se e Castanea ; (7 ) nuxGraeca , a lmond , Prunus amygda lua , XI 17 , XV 90 , XVI13 8 , XVII 13 6 (8 ) nux Persicaiuglan s , XV 87 ; (9 ) nux

pinea , pine cone , e sp. of th e

stone pine , Pinus pin ea , VI

3 5 , 86, XVII 7 1, 13 6,XXIII 142—14 3 , XXIV 164

166 , XXVI 28 , XXIX 40 ,

( 10 ) nux Pon t ica abe llana ,

XV 88 ; ( Il ) mux Praenestina ,

ha z e lnu t , Cory lus ave llana ,

XV 90 , XVII 96 . See a lsoba lanos and Dios ba lanos .

Nycta lops nyctegreton , XXI62 .

Nyctcgre ton , O rien ta l plant a l

le o edly luminous a t n igh t ,

perhaps Caesa lpinia pu lcherrima , XXI 62 .

Nyma , unknow n herb , XXVII10 6 .

Nymphaea , ye l low wa ter - lily ,

Nuphar lu teum, and whitewater - lily , N ymphaea . a lba ,

XXV 7 5 , 1 3 2 , XXVI 3 2 , 4 4 ,

4 5 , 5 7 , 7 6 , 8 1, 94 , 13 5 , 144 ,14 7 , 155 , 16 3 . The mym

phaea H eraclia is specifica l lythe whit e wa terli ly , XXV 13 2 ,XXV-I 3 2 , 44 , 45 , 76, 8 1, 9 3 ,94 , 14 4 , 16 3 . In XXVII 78

nymphaea pteris is the male

fern , A sp idium fi lia: mas .

Occhus , perhaps manna sain

foin , A lhagi M aurorum, XII

O cimoides clinopodion ,

52 4

wild basi] , Ca lamintha clino

podium, XXIV 13 7 .

O cimum , ba sil , Ocymum basi licum, XIX 98, 100 , 117 , 119

12 3 , 154 , 157 , 176, 17 7 , 18 1,18 3 , XX . 119—12 4 , 144 , XXI100 , 1 74 , 17 8 , XXII … 4 3 ,XXIII 13 1, XXIV 8 1, .XXVI162 , XXVIII 169 , 175 , 185 ,

XXX 1 3 9 , XXXII 5 3 , 55 .

Ocimum , a mixed fodder crop,

probab ly most ly v etches ,XVII 196, 19 8 , XVIII 1 4 3 .

O cu lus , housedeek , S emperv ivum arboreum, XXV 160 .

Odontit is , perhaps . red eye

brigh t , Euphras ia odon tites ,XXVII 10 8 .

O enanthe , ( I) in XXI 65, 167

drop wort , Spiraeajilipendula(2 ) apparen t ly a product ob

ta ined from th e flower. c lustersof the labrusca in XII 13 2 ,13 3 , XIII 18, XXIII 2 , 8—9 ,18 , 80 , 9 1.

O enobreches (dv.o vxlè'

in

sain foin ,Onobrychis

v icià ef olia , XXIV I55 .

O e tum, un known , perhaps earth

nut , A rachis hypogaea , XXI

88 .

O istos , arrowhead , S agitta sagit.

tif olia , XXI 111 . (emend - )fO lea , oliv e - tree , O lea europa ea ,

II 108 , 22 6 , III 4 1, VI 13 1,

VIII 204 , XI 18 , XII 3 , 3 5,40 , 7 7 , 13 0 , XIII

XIV 7 , XV 1—8 , 11,78 , 13 4 , 13 5 , XVI 19 , 7 9 , 8 7

9 1, 104 , 12 7 , 12 8 , 13 1, 176,183 , 206 , 2 12 , 2 19 , 222 ,

2 3 0 , 2 3 4 , 2 3 9 , 240 , 24 1, XVIII l ,

- 17 , 3 0, 3 1, 4 7 , 5 3 , 8 1, 9 3 ,96 , 113 ,126, 12 7 , 128 , 129 , 1 3 0 , 13 3 ,13 7 , 174 , 200 , 22 3 , 228 , 2 2 9 ,2 3 0 , 2 3 2 , 2 3 3 , 2 3 7 , 24 1, 242 ,

INDEX OF PLANTS

24 3 , 257 , 262 . 263 , XVIII162 , 188 , 240 , 2 4 3 , 2 54 , 2 66,2 8 7 , 2 88 , 3 29 , 3 3 7 , XIX /4 8 ,

XXI 5 1 , 57 , XXII 7 3 , XXIII69—75, 96, 97 , XXVI 96; 1 62 ,XXVII 65 , XXXIV 1, 13 3 ,XXXV 160 . The Arabian

olea (XII 7 7 ) is the whitemangrov e , A v icennia oflîcina lis , a lso de scribed , but not

named , in XII 3 7 .

O leaginea , a kind of grape , XIV

3 8 .

O lea ster , oleaster, O lea oleaster,V 3 , VIII 10 1, XII 26, XIII114 , XV 19 , 24 , XVI 70 , 74 ,199 , 20 6. 2 12 , 2 19 , 2 3 0 , 240 ,

244 , XVII 129 , 24 2 , XXIII

7 2 , 76—7 8 , 12 9 , 242 , XXIV 50 ,XXXIV 13 3 .

O leastrum , a kind of buxus , XVI

70 .

O l iv a , oliv e—berry , O lea europaea ,

VIII 204 , XI 18 , 4 6 (emend .

XII 2 6, 67 , 13 0 , XIII

3 2 , 54 , 6 3 , 1 3 9 , 14 1, XV 4—6,

9—17 , 18 , 20 , 3 4 , 68 , 96 , 10 1,104 , 10-9 , 111—113 , 115 , XVI

2 8 , 108 , 12 1, 2 3 4 , XVII 2 29 ,2 3 0 , 2 3 7 , 24 1, XVIII 3 8 , 254 ,

2 7 3 , 3 20 , 3 29 , XIX 7 9 , XXI

7 1, XXIII 7 3 , XXVI 82 ,XXXVII 16 1, 184 , 188 . The

oliv a of India (XII 2 6 ) isO lea cuspida ta .

O lus , origina l ly a generic termfor potherbs , in Pliny usua l lyspecifica l ly the cabbage , Brassica oleracea , XVII 17 7 , 240 ,XVIII 165 , 188 , XIX 79 , 13 3 ,13 4 , 13 6—144 , 17 7 , 179 , 180 ,

188 ,XX 3 3 , XXII 74 , 7 7 , 80 ,

82 , XXIV 1, 13 9 . XXVI 58 ,8 3 , 88 , 164 , XXVII 54 , 66,XXVIII 17 1, XXIX 80 ,

XXXI 115 , XXXII 94 ,XXXV 189.

52 5

O lus marit imuni , sea orach ,

A trip lex ha limus , XXII 7 3 —7 4 ,

XXXI I 94 .

‘

Cf . o lu s ma ri

num , XXIX 7 9 .

O lusa trum , a lexand ers , Smyrnium olusa trum, XII 67 , XIX162 , 164 , XXII79 .

O lyra , tw o -

gra iried whea t , Triticum dicoccum, XVIII 62 , 75 ,92 , XXII 12 1 ; in XVIII 7 5

w rongly e quated with “

ory z a ;in

‘

XVIII 8 1 men tioned a s

ory z a .

Ompha locarpos aparine ,

XXVII 3 2 .

Quear onothera , XXVI 111.

Omi t is , a type of marjoram , per

haps Origanum creticum , XX175. In XX 17 7 heracliumh eracleot icum .

Onoche lis , onochilis in XXI 100 ,XXII 5 1, probably iden tica lwith onochilon .

Onochilon , bugloss . E chium difiusum, ca l led a lso anchusa ,

arch ebion , e n chrysa , ono

ch e l is , rhex ia , XXII 5 1.

Ononis (see a lso Anonis ), rest

h arrow , Ononis antiquorum,

XXVII 29 .

Onopo'

rdon or onopradon , a

thi st le , perhaps the cot ton

thist le , Onopordon acan thium,

XXVII 110 .

On 0 pyxos , a this t le , Onopordoni l lyricum, XXI 94 .

Onosma , s tone bug loss , Onosmaechioides , XXVII 110 .

Onothera , o leander , Neriumoleander, ,XXVI 1 11, 14 6.

Onothuris , o leander, Neriumoleander, XXIV 167 , XXVI 18.

Ophiostaphy le , probab ly th e

caper , Capparis spinosa , XIII12 7 . E ls ewh ere , a lso bryony ,

Bryonia dioica .

INDEX OF PLANTS

Oph iusa , a magical plant , XXIV163 .

Ophrys , iv y- b lade , Ophrys ova ta

or bifolia , XXVI 164 .

Opit ion , earth - nut , B un iumf erulaceum ( in Gree ce , but not in

Italy»XIX 95 .

Opoba lsamum , ba lsam of Mecca ,

the juice of the ba lsam - tree ,


XIII 18 .

Opulus , a kin d of maple , Acer,

XIV 12 , XVII 20 1.

Orchis , (1) generic t erm for

orchis , Orchis sp. , manyspecies of wh ich grow in the

Mediterranean region , XXVI95 , 96 , 128 , 14 6, XXVII 65,(2 ) a kind of oliv e , XV 4 , 13 ,20 , 2 1.

O reose linum , perhaps w i ld parsley , Petrose linum sa tivum, XIX124 , XX 1 17 .

Orestion , probab ly e lecampane ,Inu la helenium. XIV 108.

Origanum, ( l ) whi te type is

swee t win te r marjoram , Ori

ganum heracleoticum, 2 ) blacktype is probab ly common

marjoram , O . vu lgare , ( 3 ) ori

ganum herac leot icum is 0 .

herac leoticum, VIII 98 , X 195 ,XII 89, 9 1, XIV 105 , XIX100 , 117 , 118 , 12 1, 165 , 184 ,186, XX 55 , 12 8 , 156 , 170 ,175, XXI 53 , 55 , 56, XXII 4 6,XXIV 1, XXV 3 2 , 68 , XXVII13 , 57 , XXVIII 152 , 156,XXXI

Orion , a kind of polygonus ,

perhaps Equisetum pa l lidum,

XXVII 1 15.

Orminos or orminus , w ild as

paragua, perhaps especia l lyA sparagus a cutifolius , XIX15 1, XX 110 , XX VI 94

(ormenos agrios ).

52 6

Ornithogala , star of Bethlehem,

Ornithoga lum sp. , especia llyO . umbella tum, XXI 102 .

Omus , moun ta in ash , Fraxinusornus , XVI 74 , XVII 20 1.

Orobanche , probab ly a spe cies of

Orobanche, perhaps O . ca rgo

phyllacea, XVIII 155 , XXII162 . In Th e ophrastus , usually dodder, Cuscuta europa ea .

Orobothron hypocisthis ,XXVI 4 9 .

Orsinus, perh aps a mistake foro'

pew 65. XXI 67 .

O rtyx s te lephuros , XXI 10 1.

Ory z a , rice , Oryz a sa tiva , XV 28,XVIII 7 1, 7 5 , 9 3 , XXVIII110 . In XVIII 8 1 probablyan error for olyra .

O siritis, Egypt ian name for

cynocepha lia , XXX 18.

Ostry s (or ostrya ), hop horn .

beam , Ostrya ca rpinifolia ,

XIII 117 .

Osyris , poe t’

s cassia , Osyris

a lba , XXVII l l l .O thonn a , p erhaps the greater

ce landine , Che lidoniummajus ,XXVII 109 .

Oxalis , sour dock , Rumex ace .

tosa , XX 2 3 l .

Oxy cedrus , prickly cedar , Juni

perus oxycedrus , XIII 52 .

Oxylapathon , sharp-

poin ted

dock, Rumex crispus , XX 2 3 1,2 3 3 .

Oxymyrsin e , butcher’

s broom ,

Ruscus acu lea tus , XXIII 88 ,158 , 165 , XXV 158 , XXVII7 3 , 9 3 . In XV 2 7 , 122 , and

XXIII 88 chamaemyrsine .

Oxy s . ( 1) wood—sorre l , Oxa lisacetosella , XXVII - 112 ; ( 2 ) aform of the grea t sea - rush ,

Juncus acu tus , XX I 112 .

Oxyschoenos , great sea—rush ,

Juncus acutus , XXI 112.

INDEX OF PLANTS

XVI 157 , 17 8 , XVIII 108 ,

XXII 4 8 , XXIV 88 , XXVIII6 1, 168 , XXIX 4 3 , XXXIII

94 , XXXIV 112 .

Para lium , ( 1) horned poppy ,

Glaucium fla vum, XX 2 06 ;

(2 ) sea spurge , Euphorbia

parotia s , XX 20 9 ; ( 3 ) sun

spurge , Euphorbia he lioscopia ,

XXVI 68 .

Pararinon or paranarrhinon

an t irrh inum , w ild lion ’

s

mouth , Ant irrhinum orontium,

XXV 12 9 .

Parda lianches aconitum ,

VIII 99 , XX 50 , XXVII 7 .

Partheni s artemisia , XXV 7 3 .

Part henium (parth enion ) , a t ermfor a v arie ty of simi lar plants ,inc luding ( 1 ) pe ll itory , Paris

ta ria oflicina lis (XXI 17 6,XXII 4 3 , (2 ) sea side

knotwe ed , Polygonum mari

timtim (XX I 89 , XXII 4 1 and

( 3 ) annual mercury , Ill ercuri

a lis annua (XXV See

a lso XXI 17 6.

Pa ssiolus (phasiolus , phaseolus ),probab ly u sua l ly th e blackeyed cowpea , Dolichosmela nophtha lmus , sometimes

perhaps other similar legumes,

XII 2 6 , XVIII 58 , 125 , 186,198 , 202 , 3 14 , XXIV 65 .

Past inaca , a generic term for the

carrot , Daucus carota , and

carrot - like plan ts , inc ludingA lthaea ofiicina l is , A thamanta

cretensis , A . cervaria , S ese liammoid es , and Ill a laba ila

aurea , the iden t ity in some

in stances v ery un ce rtain , XIX62 , 88 , 90 , 92 , XX 2 9 , 3 0 ,XXI 86 , 167 , XXV 89 , 112 .

Pecten Veneris , shepherd’

s

need le , S candix pecten - veneris ,XXIV 175.

52 8

capnos trun»Pedes ga llinacn

ca , XXV 155 .

Pelasgum, spurge laure ] , Daphne

mez ereum, XV 13 2 .

Pe lecinus , axa w eed , S ecurigera

coroni l la , XVIII 155 , XXVII12 1.

Pentape tes , pentaphy llon

qu inque folium , XXV 109 .

Pentorobon paeonia , XXV2 9 , XXVII 84 .

eplis, small purple spurge ,Euphorbia pep lis , XX 2 10

2 15 , XXVII 119 .

Pepo , perhaps the water—me lon ,

Citru l lus vu lgaris , XIX 65,XX 11—12 .

Perat icum , gum of the tree

bd e l lium , XII 3 5.

Perdicium , ( I) pe l li tory , Parieta ria ofiicina lis , XXI 176 ,XXII 4 3 ; (2 ) sea side knotweed , Polygonum maritimum,

XXI 102 , XXII 4 1 ; ( 3 ) uncerta in , XIX XXVIII2 19 .

Pericarpum , a bulb , XXV 13 1.Periclymenon , honeysuckle ,Lonicera , perhaps L . etru sca or

L . caprif olium, XXVII 120 .

Perisson dorycn ion , XXI 179 .

Peris tereos , v erv a in , Verbenaofi cina lis , XXV 12 6 , 13 4

14 3 , XXVI 155 ;hierabotane , XXV 105 .

Perpressa baccar, XXI 13 2 ,XXVI 8 7 .

Persea , a sacred tree of Egyp tand Persia , M imus ops S chim

peri , X III 60 , 6 3 , XV 45 .

Persicon napy , Persian mus

tard ,

”

perhaps Duna ria annua ,

XXVII 140 . Cf . Th laspi.Persicum (caryon ) iuglans ,XV 87.

Persicus , peach tree , Amygda luspersica , XII 14 , XIII 60 ,

INDEX OF PLANTS

XV 3 9—45 , 48 , 109 , 110 , 111

114 , 115 , XVI 111, 13 8 , XVII13 6 , 15 1, XXIII 13 2 . unknown

Persolata or persona ta , probab lycommon bur - dock , A rctiumlappa , XXV 104 , 113 , XXVI24 , 28 , 92 , 113 , 12 1, 1 3 6, 14 3 .

Pesoluta , Egypt ian plant used

for chaplets , XXI 184 .

Petel lium, unknown ; Sprenge lsays wa ter av ons , Geum riva le ,XXI 4 9 .

Petrose linum, pars ley , Petroselinum sa ti vum, XX 118,XXVIII 197 , XXXII 10 1.

Penco, ( I) generic t erm for fir e

and pines , XI 118 ; (2 ) a kindof grape , XIV 75.

Peucedanum , su lphur -wort ,Peuceda num oflicina le , XXV117 , 118 , 13 9 , 14 3 , 164 , 166 , v erbascum , s .v . ,

XXVI 2 3 , 28 , 3 2 , 3 4 , 4 1, 54 ,74 , 7 6, 79 , 89 , 114 , 1 18 , 13 0 ,1 3 5 , 144 , 156, 161, XXVII14 3 , XXXII 2 8. 68 .

Pe z ica , a mushroom, perhaps

M orche l la escu len ta or Dyeo

perdon bovista , XIX 3 8.

Phalangion or pha langitis ,Gre ek a lplily , Lloydia graeca ,

XVIII 156 , XXVII 124 .

Pha laris , perhaps canary grass ,Pha lar is canariensis , but more

like ly P . nodosa , XXVII 12 6 .

Pham ace on , great centaury ,

Centaurea centa urium, XXV

3 3 .

Pha scos sphagnos , XXIV 27 .

Phasel ion i sopyron , XXVII94 .

Phaseolus and phasiolus , see

Passiolus .

Pha sgan ion xiphium , corn

flag, Gladiolus segetum, XXV13 7 , 13 8 .

Phaunus , probably actua l ly a

coarse oliv e , rather than a

52 9

plan t (cf . Theophr. H . P l.XVI 244 .

Phe landrion , an

plant , XXVII 126 .

Pheos stoebe , a burne t ,Poterium spinosum, XXI 9 1,XXII 28 .

Philan thropos , goose-

gra ss ,Ga lium aparine, XXIV 176,XXVII 3 2 .

Ph iletaeris or phile taeria

polemonia , O lympic S t . John’

s

wort , H ypericum olympicum,

or Gre ek v a lerian , Polemoniumcaeru leum, XXV 64 , 99 .

Philochares marrubium , XX24 1.

P11110 pa1s=marrubium , XX 24 1.

Ph lomis , phlome , Ph lomis samia ,

XXV 12 1.

Phlomos

XXV 120 .

Ph lox , wa l l flower , Cheiranth—usCheiri. Some say rose - cam

pion , Lychn is coronaria , or

S i lene v espertina , XXI 59 ,64 .

Phocis , a kind of pear- tree ,

XVII 2 3 7 .

Phoenicea , perhaps rye—grass ,

Lolium perenne , XXII 13 5.

Phoenix e la te , dwarf -

palm ,

Chamaerops humi lis, XXIX56 .

Phonos , distaff - thi st le , Car

thamus lanatus , XXI 95,XXVII 73 .

Phragmite s , probab ly pole - reed ,

A rundo donax , XXXII 14 1.

Phrenion anemone , XXI 164 .

Phryn ion , perhaps Cre tan milkv e tch , A s traga lus creticus

XXV 12 3 , XXVI 13 0 ;

poterion , XXVII 122 .

Phthirophoros , ere ct cone

Al eppo pine , Pinus brutia ,

XVI 4 9.

INDEX OF PLANTS

Phu , Caucasian v alerian , Va leriana phu , XII 45 , XXI 13 6 .

Phycos , sea -weed generica llyone type of litmus d escribed ,

Cystoseira f oenicu losa , and tw o

types of grass-wrack , Posi

donia oceanica and Cymodocea

nodosa , XIII 13 5—13 6, XXVI10 3 , 128 .

Phyl lanthes ; Pliny probab lyt ook the adj ectiv e dgbv

'ÀÀavfle$

(“

hav ing no pe ta ls t o be

the name of a flower , XXI 99 .

Phyllon , secondary name forleucacantha , XXII 40 ; in

XXVII 12 5 perhaps M ercu

ria lis perennis . In otherau thors phylla (or folia ) isof ten a term formaloba thrum ,

Phyteuma , cross -wort , Res eda

phyteuma , XXVII 125 .

Picea , pitch-

pine , Pinus s ilv es o

tris and other specie s , III 122 ,XIV 12 3 , 12 7 , XV 3 6 , XVI 3 0,3 5 , 4 4 , 4 6 , 4 9 , 5 3 , 57 ,9 1, 95 , 10 6 , 12 2 , 13 8 , 2 24 ,XVII 9 1, 2 3 6, XXIV 2 8 , 3 1,3 2 , XXVII 115, XXIX 95.

Picina , a kind of grape , XIV 42 .

Picris , chicory , perhaps esp.

Cichorium pumi lum, XVI 106,XIX 126, XXII 66.

Pina ster , c luster pine ,Pinus

pina ster, XIV 12 7 , XV 3 6,XVI 3 8 , 3 9 , 80.

Pinu s , pin e . fir , mostly Scotch

pine , Pinus sy lvestris , and

Al eppo pine , P . ha lep ensis ,XIII 3 5 , XVI 3 0 , 3 1, 3 6 , 3 8 ,4 2 , 7 9 , 9 1, 95, 106, 107 , 12 3 ,13 8 , 19 3 , 195 , 2 2 3 , 2 3 0 , XVII7 1, 89 , 9 1, 22 8 , 2 3 5 , 2 3 8,XXIII 62 , 142 , XXIV 2 9 , 3 2 ,3 8 , XXVI 13 3 , XXIX 50 ,XXXIII 94 , XXXVII 4 2 .

Piper , most ly long pepper , Piper

53 °

longum, and black pepper, P .

nigrum, perhaps some ca ses

Af rican pepper, Xylopiaaethiopica , VI 105 , XII 2 6—2 9 ,119 , XIV 108 , XV 58 , 118 ,XIX 187 , XX 3 4 , 87 ,XXII 2 6 , 3 3 , 104 , 155 , XXIII150 , XXIV 100 , 164 , 179 ,XXV 100 , XXVI 109 , 117 ,154 , XXVII 4 2 , 48 , 70 , 7 3 ,95 , 13 0 , 13 6 , XXVIII 119 ,120 , XXIX 49 , 55, 88 , 110 ,XXX 5 3 , 7 1, 10 3 , XXXI 117 ,XXXII 89 , 10 1, 115 . The

pepper-

plan t that grew in

Ita ly (XII 29 , XVI 13 6 ) is

perhaps a typ e of laure l , suchas Daphne

—gnidium.

Piperitis siliquas trum , pepper

wort , Lepidium campes tre,XIX 187 , XX 174 .

Pirus , pear - tree , Pyrus communis , III 60 , 117 , XI 118 ,XII 56, XIV 7 , 108 , XV 5 3

56, 58 , 6 1, 65 , 68 , 84 , 115 , 116,XVI 74 , 7 7 , 84 , 90 , 92 , 9 7 ,10 3 , 106 , 109 , 112 , 114 , 117 ,12 2 , 13 7 , 18 1, 205 , 2 11, 245 ,XVII 11, 17 , 59 , 7 1, 72 , 88 ,95, 111, 114 , 120 , 1 3 1, 13 6,22 1, 2 3 0 , 2 3 7 , 25 3 , XVIII 3 4 ,24 3 , XXII 9 9 , 122 , 144 ,XXIII 115 - 116 , XXV 148 .

Pistacia (mux ) , pistach io , Pis

tacia v era , XII 2 5 (d escribed ,

bu t not named ), XIII 5 1, XV9 1, XXIII 150 .

Pisum , pea , Pisum sa tivum,

XIV 13 5 , XVIII 57 , 58 , 12 3 ,124 . 125, 198 , XX 5 3 .

Pitui taria staphis , XXIII 18 .

Pityusa , quacksa lv er ’

s spurgo,Euphorbia pityusa , XXIV 3 1.

Plantago, large type probab lylarge planta in , P lan tagomajor , sma l l typ e hare

’

s

foot plantain , P . lagopus , as

INDEX OF PLANTS

XIII 13 2 , XVIII 7 1, XIX107 , 108—110 , 118 , 120 , 17 7 ,18 1, XX 4 4—49 , XXI109 , _XXII 105 , 159 , XXIV13 6 , XXV 13 7 , XXVII 54 ,

XXVIII 65, 10 8, 1 7 3 , 176,199 , 2 3 3 , 24 1, 24 8 , XXIX 4 7 ,

12 3 , 13 6 , XXXI 1 17 , 129 ,XXXII 94 , 124 , XXXIV 118 ,

XXXVII 109 , 113 . Porrumnigrum ba llote , XXVII 54 .

Pos ia (or posea ) , a kind of oliv e ,XV 4 , 1 3 , 17 , 20 , 2 1 .

Potamaugis thalassaegle , a

narcot ic plant of India ,

XXIV 164 .

Potamogiton , pondweed , Potamogeton natans , water mi lf oil ,M yriophyl lum sp. , or f ea ther

f oil , H otion ia pa lustris , XXVI50 , XXXII 5 3 .

Poterion , goat’

s thorn , A stra

ga lus creticus or poterium,

XXV 12 3 , XX VII 122 .

Pot erion aur eum radicu la ,

XXIV 96.

Pothos , th e a sphode l, e speciallyA sphode lus ramosus , XXI 67 .

Praecia , a kind of grape- v ine ,

XIV 29.

Praecox , peach , Amygda lus persico , XVI 10 3 .

Pra sion , ( l ) white horehound ,

M a rrubium vu lgare, XX 2 4 1 ;

(2 ) omi tis , XX 175 ; ( 3 )sw ee t w in ter marjoram , Ori

ganum heracleoticum, XX 17 7 .

Prason , usua l Greek t erm for the

leek , A l lium porrum ; in XIII

1 3 6 a te rm for Liguri an grass

wrack , Posidonia oceanica .

Pressum , a kind of s ili , XXXIII

158, 160 .

Proserpinaca polygonon ,

XXVI 2 3 , XXVII 12 7 .

Protomedia =hes t iate ris , XXIV165 .

Prunus , usua l ly the plum - tree ,Prunus domes tica , some t im es

th e b lackthorn , P . spinosa ,

XIII 5 1, 64 , 66, XV 4 1, 4 2 , 44 ,4 6, 58 , 109 , 112 , XVI 7 4 ,104 , 2 4 5 , XVII 65, 7 5 , 95 , 96 ,13 6, XVIII 3 4 , XIX 92 ,XXIII 13 2 , 13 3 , XXIV 10 6.

The prun us A egypt ia (XIII64 ) is the sebesten , Cardia

myxa .

Pseudoanchu sa , Ita lian a lkan e t ,Anchus a i ta lica , XXII 50 .

Pseudobum'

on , probably Cretanpimpine l la , Pimpine l la eretica ,

XXIV 15 3 .

Pseudocypirus , fa lse cypXVII 95 , XXXIV 13 3 .

Pseudodictamnum , perh aps fa lsedit tany , Ba lla ta acetabu losa ,

XXV 9 3 , XXVI 4 9 , 14 2 , 15 3 ,16 1.

Pseudonardus , spike lav ender ,Lavandu la spica , XII 4 3 .

Psilotrum v it is a lba , XXI II

2 1, XXVI 164 , XXVIII 250 ,255 .

Psithia , a kind of grape , XIV 8 1.

Psychotr0phon v e t tonica ,

be tony , Betonica ofi cina lis ,

XXV 84 .

Psy l lion , fl eaw ort , fl eabane ,

P la nta go psy l lium, XXV 140 ,

14 3 , 174 , XXVI 3 2 , 45 ,104 , 1 19 , 122 , 140 , 156, 16 1.

Pteris , a f em , probab ly ma le

irus ,

f ern , A spid ium fi lix mas ,

XXVII 7 8 .

Pteris nymphaea , probablybracken , Pteris aqui lina ,

XXVII 7 8 .

Pul eium , pennyr oya l , .M entha

pulegium, II 10 8 , XVIII 22 7 ,XIX 12 3 , 160 , XX 144 , 152

158 , XXIV 62 , XXV 92 , 104 ,

XXVI 9 1, 148 , XXVII 49 ,

XXXII 3 8.

INDEX OF PLANTS

Pumila , a kind of grape v ine ,XIV 3 7 .

Punica , pomegrana te , Pun icagrana tum XII 4 8 , 49 , XIII112 , 113 , 118 , XIV 103 , XV

3 9 , 60 , 100 , 112 , 115 , XVI 74 ,90 , 99 , 104 , 109 , 112 , 13 7 , 24 1,XVII 67 , 86 , 88 , 95 , 9 6,113 , 120 , 12 1, 123 , 2 3 0 , 2 3 8 ,24 1, 24 7 , 257 , 2 59 , XVIII 188,XIX 13 5 , XX 2 18 , XXI 72 ,XXII 90 , 10 3 , 14 3 , XXIII 85 ,86 , 106—1 14 , 12 3 , 157 , XXIV5 7 , 7 7 , 12 9 , XXVII 44 ,

XXVIII 10 2 , 182 , XXIX 13 6,XXX XXXI 1 17 , XXXII1 12 , XXXV 184 , 189,XXXVI 145 .

Pycnocomon , probab ly a species

of motherwort , Leonuru s

marrabiastrum or cardiaca .

O thers say meadow succisa ,

S uccisa pra tensis , or wood landangelica , A nge lica silv estris ,XXVI 57 , 12 5 , 12 8 , 14 5 .

Pyracantha , fire - thorn , Coton'

ea ster pyra ca ntha , XXIV 1 14 .

Pyre thrum . iden tified by some

as Ant hemis pyrethrum, bu t on

the basis of habitat perhaps

rather A n themis tinctoria v ar.

pa l lida , XXVIII 15 1.

Pyros achne thym e laea , XIII1 14 .

Pyxacanthus ch ironius , buckthorn , Rhamnus lycioide s, XII3 0 ,

-XXIV 125 .

Quercu s , oak - tree , esp. Quercusrobur , IV 18 , VIII 8 1, XI 3 2 ,7 7 , XII 108 , XIII 6 3 , 13 7 ,13 8 , XIV 126, XVI 5 , 1 1, 16,17 , 19 , 20 , 22 , 25 , - 3 1, 3 7 , 74 ,8 1, 13 0 , 2 18 , 2 3 8 , 245 ,XVII 55 , 89 , 13 0 , 20 1, 2 3 5 ,2 3 6, XVIII 3 4 , XXIV 1, 7 ,13 0 , XXV 4 3 , 106 , XXXI 8 3 ,

53 3

10 7 , XXXVI 20 3 . Quercusas a seaweed (XIII 13 7 ) isCystoseira ericoides (shoretyp e ) and S argassum vu lgare(deepwa ter type ).

Quinque folium , cinque foil , Po

ten ti l la reptans . No doubt

the name in c luded Tormen

ti l la reptans and Potenti llarupestris . It pentaphyl lon ,

pentape tes and ch amaez elon ,

XXV 65 , 109 , 1 19 , 128 , 14 3 ,166, 174 , XXVI 2 1, 2 3 , 24 , 2 6,3 5 , 5 3 , 7 9 , 90 , 92 , 105 , 113 ,114 , 116, 124 , 126, 127 , 13 1,14 3 , XXVIII 140 .

Rabuscula , a kind of grape , XIV4 2 .

Radicu la , perhaps soapwort ,S aponaria ofiicina lis

'

; others

say dyer’

sweed , Reseda lu te ‘

ola ,

or Egypt ian soaproot , Cypso.

phi la stru thium, XIX 4 8 ,XXIV 96 , XXV 52 , XXIX 3 9 .

See a lso S truthion .

Radius or rad ius maior, a type

o f o l iv e , XV 4 , 20 .

Ranuncu lus , ce landine , Ranun

culus sp. , the four type s

de scribed in XXV 17 2— 17 4

perhaps R . asia ticus , R. lan

uginosus , R. murica tus , and

R. aqua ti lis .

Rapa (mm ), turn ip, Brassicarapa , XVII 114 , XVIII 50 ,125—13 2 , 163 , 19 1, 192 , 259,3 14 , XIX 62 , 75 , 86 ,122 , 17 1, 176, 183 , XX 18—20 ,2 1, XXV 114 XXVII 96 .

Rapadion leontope ta lon ,

XXVII 96.

Raphan it is iris , perhaps Iris

biflora , XXI 4 1.

Raphanus , cultiv a ted radish ,

Raphanus sativus , XI 112 , XV3 0 , XVII 2 3 9 , 240 , XVIII

INDEX OF PLANTS

13 0 , 163 , XIX 62 , 78—87 , 98,100 , 117 , 119 , 122 , 17 7 , 182 ,18 3 , XX 2 1, 22 , 2 3 , 2 8 , 2 9 ,XX II 125 , XXIII 16, 2 1, 65,94 , XXV 59 , XXXI 65 , 7 9 ,115 , XXXVI 7 9 . Raphanos

agria is properly a t erm for

charlock , Rapha nus rapha n

is trum subSp. segetum, but in

XXVI 72 is erroneous ly giv enas a synonym of apios ischas .

R egia oliv a , a kind of oliv e , XV13 , 15 .

R eseda , whi t e mignon e t te , Re

seda a lba , XXVI I 1 3 1.

Rhamn os , probab ly buck .

thorn , Rhamnus sp . , XXIV124 .

Rhape ion leon topeta lon ,

v . l . of rapadion , XXVII 9 6.

Rhaphanidion leon topet a lon ,

a v . l . of rapadion , XXVII 96 .

Rhecoma , the root of a species

of rhubarb , Rheurn ribes ,

XXVII 12 8—13 0 .

Rhexia onochilon , XXII 5 1.

Rhinoclia anchusa , XXVII

59 .

Rhododaphne rhododendron ,

o leander, N erium oleander,XVI 79 , XXIV 90 .

Rhododendron o leander,N eri -

um oleand er , XVI 7 9 ,

XVII 98 , XXI 5 1, 7 7 , XXIV90 .

Bhoea , red poppy , Papav errhoeas ,

XIX 169 , XX 204.

XXI 165 .

Rhopa lon nymphaea , XXV

7 5 .

Rhus , species of sumach , ( 1)myrt le deav ed sumach , Cori

a ria myrtif olia and ( 2 ) tann er

’

s sumach , Rhus coriaria ,

X II 3 1, XIII 55 , XXIV 9 1,9 3 , 120 , 129 , XX IX 50 .

Robur , usua l ly th e Va lonia oak,

53 4

Quercus a egi lops , XI 15 1, XII3 5 , XIII 119 , XVI 6, 17 , 19,20 , 25 , 2 7 , 2 8 , 2 9 , 3 0 , 3 1, 3 6,5 3 , 9 1, 100 , 127 , 13 0 ,182 , 186 , 189 , 204 , 20 7 , 2 12 ,2 18 , 222 , 22 6, 22 7 , 245 , 24 9,XVII 57 , 12 1, 174 , 2 20 , 23 5 ,2 3 6, 25 3 , XXII 97 , XXIV 11,12 , 13 , XXV 168 , XXVIII113 , XXXIV 95 .

Roda rum , perhaps meadowswee t , Spira ea u lma ria , XXIV17 2 .

Rosa , rose , Rosa centi/ alia and

oth er species , XI 118 , 2 79,XII 40 , 110 , 12 1 , XIII 2 , 9 ,18 , 2 6, XIV 106, XV 3 0 , XVI7 9 , 14 5 , 180 , XVIII 111, 2 3 6,24 2 , XX 152 , XXI 8 , 11, 142 1, 2 2 , 3 6, 3 7 , 45 , 4 9 , 55 , 59,64 , 65 , 69 , 70 , 120 , 12 1— 125 ,XXIII 102 , XXIV 12 1, XXV17 , 7 6 , 164 , XXVI 42 , XXIX94 , 95 , XXXIV 168 , XXXV12 9 .

Rosma rinum , rosemary , Ros .

ma rinus ofi cina lis , XI 3 9 ,XVII 98 , XIX 187 , XX IV99—10 1 , 17 3 , XXXIII 7 6.

Rubia , madder , Rubia tincto

rum, XIX 4 7 , XXIV 94 ,

XXVII 106, XXXV 4 5.

Rubus , any bramb le , inc luding the w ild rose and re spberry , bu t u sually b lackberry obush , Rubus f ruticosus ,

VIII 189, 20 1, XII 89 , XV 9 7 ,

XVI 80 , 9 1, 176, 179 , 180 ,

XVII XVIII 3 4 , 15 3 ,XIX 68 , XXI 14 , 19 , XXII65, XXIV 117—124 , XXVIII2 14 , XXXIV 13 3 .

Rumex (rumix ), ( I) : oxa lis,XX (2 ) patience dock,Rumex pa tientia , XIX 184 .

See a lso XI 18 , XXVI 2 1.

Rumpot in us , a kind of maple ,

INDEX OF PLANTS

graeca , ment ioned a lso in

XXVI 128 and XXVIII 119 .

Modern nomen clature ind i

cate s t erm w as—applied a lso

to H ima ntoglossum hircinurn ,

S erapias cordigera , and Pha l lusimpudicus . In XXV 9 8

aristolochia polyrrhiz os .

Saur ion , cited as a t erm for

mu stard as resul t of care lessreading of Diose . 2 . 156 W . on

OÀcia r n, orbi s source ,XIX 17 1.

Saxif ragum adian tum , XXII

64 .

Scammonia , scamm ony , Con

volvu lus scammonia , XIV 1 10 ,

XXV 54 , XXVI 59 , 90 , 9 3 , 114 ,

157 , XXVII 7 9 . Scammon ia

t enuis lagin e , XXIV 1 3 9 .

S candix ,w i ld cherv il , S ca ndix

pecten- v eneris , XIII 89 , XXII

80—8 1 .

Scandula , perh aps spe lt , Triti

cum spe lta , otherw ise emmer ,

T . dicoccum, XVIII 6 2Scapu la , kin d of grape

- v in e ,

XIV 34 .

Sceptrum a spa lathos (I) , XII1 10 .

Schis ta cepa , a kind o f onion ,

X IX 10 1.

Sci l la , sea oni on or squi l l ,Urginea ma ri timo , XIV 106,XV 6 3 , XVII 8 7 , XVIII 24 4 ,

XIX 9 3 , 96 , 99 , 10 1 12 1 , XX

9 7— 10 1, XXI 10 6, 108 , XXIII

59 , XXIV 44 , XXV 2 6, 115 ,XXVI 95 , 114 , XXVII 14 ,

XXX 2 3 , 52 , XXX II 10 1,

13 5 ; scil la pusi lla (XXVIIPancra tium ma ritimum ;

scilla Epimenidu (XIXOrn ithoga lum py rena icum.

Scirpu la a kind of grape

v ine , XIV 8 1.

Scirp u s , bu lru sh , VII 206,XIII 7 6, XVI 178 .

53 6

Scolyrnus , go lden thi st le ,

S colymus hiapanz'

cus , XX 2 62 ,XXI 94—96, XXII 86—8 7 .

Scopa regia , probab ly Cheno

podium scopa ria , XXI 28,XXV 4 4 .

Scorda stum , an unk now n tree ,

XII 3 6 .

Scordion , germander , Teucriumscordium, XXV 6 3 , XXVI 7 7 ,89 , 100 , 10 7 , 13 7 .

Scordot is scordion , XXV 6 3 ,100 , 12 7 , XXVI 2 7 , 3 2 , 44 ,

140 , 15 1.

Scorpio, a term appli ed to

se v era l diff erent plants , of

uncerta in ident ity , in some

instances apparen t ly A cor n?

tum anthora , A sparagus acu ti

folz'

us , S corpiurus su lca ta ,

scorpion furz e , Gen is ta aca n

ihoclada , and scorpion root ,

Dorom'

cum corda tum. Tw o

types d escribed in XXII 3 9 ;a secondary n ame f or t ragos ,XIII 1 16, XXVII 14 2 ; a

secondary name for the ly

phonon , XXV 122 ; a se cond

ary name for acon itum ,

XXVII 9 ; a type of cucumis ,XX 8 ; a spinous plant , XXI9 1, 9 3 .

Scorpiuron tricoccum , XXII60 .

Scripu la , kind of grape , XIV8 1.

Scythica or scythice , g lycyrrhiz a , XXV 82 , XX VI 2 8,14 6 , XXVII 2 .

Seca le , ry e , S w a le cerea le , XVIII14 1. In XVIII 140 a kin d of

fenugreek.

Se cur icla ta , axew eed , S ecuri

gera coroni l la , XVIII 155 .

Sedum , hou se—leek, the usua ltype S emp erm

'

vum tectorum,

the large type S . arboreum,

INDEX OF PLANTS

XVIII 159 , XIX 17 9 , XXV160, XXVI l l l . See A iz o iì rn .

Se lago , fir c lubmoss , I4ycopodiumselago, XXIV 10 3 .

Semen , emmer, Triticum dicoc

cum, XVIII 82 , 102 , 112 , 184 ,198 .

Semn ion theobrotion , XXIV162 .

Senecio erigeron , XXV 167 .

Serapias orch is , XXVI 95 .

Sericha tum , Arabian aroma t ic

sh rub , unknown , XII 99 , XIII18 .

Sericum , a type of tuber ( I),XV 4 7 .

Seriphum , sea wormwood , Arte

mis ia maritima , XXVII 5 3 ,XXXII 100 .

Seris , the cu ltiv ated form en

div e , Cichorium endiv ia , the

W ild form chicory , especia l lyC . in tybus , XX 7 3 , 76,XXVII 104 .

Serpy l lum (serpullum ), creepingthyme , Thymus serpy l lum,

XIV 105 , XVI 244 , XIX 100 ,172 , 176 , XX 1 3 8 , 17 3 , 17 6,24 5 , 2 64 , XXI 59 , XXIV 13 7 ,XXX 148 .

Serra ta chamaedrys , XXIV13 0 .

Serra tu la v e t tonica , XXV 84 .

Sertula campana , La t in name

forme li lotus , Trigone l la graeca ,

XXI 5 3 .

Se sama (sesima , se samon ), se

same , S esame indicum, VI

161, XIII 1 1, 12 , 1 18 , XV 25 ,28 , 3 0 , XVIII 49 , 5 3 , 58 , 60 ,96 , 98 , 99 , 3 04 , XXII 13 2 ,158 , XXIII 95 , XXVI 67 ,110 , XXVII 12 6, XXVIII10 3 , 13 0 , 168 . W ild se sa

mon cici , XV 25 .

Sesamoides . Tw o kinds men

t ioned in XXII 13 3 (see a lso

53 7

XXV 52 ) ( I) perhaps purplerock - cress , Aubrieta deltoidea ,

Astraga lus sesameus , or Reseda

canescens ; ( 2 ) perhaps Res eda

mediterranea , H e l leborus cyclaphyllus , or h erb te rrib le ,Daphne ta rtonra ira .

Se se li, sma l l hartwort , Tordylium ofi

‘icina le, VIII 1 12 , XX

2 3 8 , XXV 92 .

Se tan ia , ( I) med lar, M espilus

germanica , XV 84 , XXIII 14 1

(2 ) the,

“

annua l on ion , a

sma l l , swee t form of A l liumcepa , XIX 10 1.

Se tan ion , ( I) spring whea t ,c lub wh eat , Triticum com

pa ctum, or perhaps common

wh eat , T . vu lgare , XVIII 70 ;(2 ) an annua l ” type of bu lb ,

unident ified , XIX 9 5 .

S ibi cici , XV 25 .

S ice licon psy llion , XXV 140 .

Siderion , epithe t of heracleon ,

s .e .

Sideritis , perhaps u sua l ly S ta

chys heraclea , perhaps some

t imes S ideri tis romana , VIII10 1, XXV 164 ,XXVI 2 4 , 9 3 , 100 , 1 15 , 1 3 5 ,

14 8 , 164 . In XXII 4 1 Polygonummaritimum and in XXII4 3 Pa rietaria ofi

‘icina lis .

D ioscorides (IV 3 3 3 6 ) men

t ion s f our kind s , inc ludingHpaxÀa

'

a and’

AxL'

ÀÀGLOS‘ ,bu t the iden tifica tion

Xoi some

is doubt fu l .Sil = sese li, XII 128 , XX 3 6 ,XXII 7 9 , XXIV 17 7 , XXVII4 8 . A secondary name for

ha lus , XXVI 42Silau s , a water plant sim ilar to

ce lery , un ident ified , XXVI88.

S iler, brookw illow , S a lim v itel

lina , XVI 7 7 and XXIV 7 3 .

INDEX OF PLANTS

S ilì, caston oil tree , Ricinuscommunis , XV 25 .

S ilicia , fenugreek , Trigonel la f oenum graecum , XVIII 140 , 165,166, XXIV 184 .

Siligo , probab ly usua l ly common

wheat , Triticum vu lgare , or

c lub whea t , T . compactum,

XVIII 6 1, 76 , 8 1, 85 , 86, 87 ,88—9 1, 9 3 , 106 , 164 , 184 , 198 ,205 , 2 98 , XXII 119 , XXVI145 , XXVIII 8 .

Siliqua , carob , Cera tonia si liqua , XIII 59 , XIV 10 3 , XV95 , 117 , XVII 13 6, XXIII151.

Siliquastrum=piperit is ,187, 188 , XX 174 .

Sillybum (syl libum ) , mi lk this tle ,

S i lybum marianum, XXII 85,XXVI 40 .

Silphium , an extinct species

of th e a safoe t icla -

producing

group , simi lar in appearance

to N arthez a-s a f oeticla and

c lose ly re lat ed to S corodosma

f oetida . If a re ference in

P liny is contemporary , not

historica l , it is to a saioe t icla ,

obta ined from S corodosma

f oeticla and similar plan ts .

See X IX 3 8—4 6 , XX 104 ,

XXII 100— 106, XXIV 9 3 .

Sinapi , whi te mus tard , Brassicaa lba , and black mustard , B .

n iger , XII 2 8 , XVI 167 ,XVIII 12 8, XIX 117 , 119 ,13 3 , 13 8 , 170 , 17 1, 18 1, 186,XX 2 5 , 12 9 , 2 3 6—24 1, XXI 7 1,155 , XXVIII 165, 2 19 , 220 ,XXIX 108 .

Simon , s tone—pars ley , S ison amo

mum, XXVII 1 3 6 .

S ion . (sium ), probab ly wa terspeedwe ll , Veronica anaga l lis ,

orperhaps broad- leav edwa ter

parsnip, S ium la tif olium,

53 8

XIX

XX II 84 (emend . XXVI,88.

In other authors , it a lso de

notes water cress , N as turtiumofiîcina le .

Siser, probably not the skirre t,S ium sisarum, but rath er the

parsnip, Peucedanum sa ti

vum, or th e carrot , Daucus

carota , XIX 62 , 90—92 , XX3 4 .

Sisymbrium , bergamot min t ,M entha aqua tica , XIX 172 ,176, XX 2 47 , XXI 59 , XXV

94 . The firs t type in'

XX 24 7

is wa ter cress , Nas turtiumofi

‘ìcina le .

Sisyrinchion , Barbary nu t , Iris

sisyrinchium, XIX 95 .

Sisyrum erica , XI 4 2 .

Sium . See Sion .

Smi lax (or milax ), a t erm for

sev era l plan t s of twiningcharacter , including bindweed ,

e specia lly h edge bindweed ,

Convolvulus sep ium (XVI 15 3 ,XXI 52 , XXIV A

second possibili ty is Smi laxaspera . The cu lt iv at ed smi .

lax of Diose . W . is the

b lack - eyed cow pea , Dolichosmela nophtha lmus . In XVI 5 1mi lax is a t erm for th e yew ,

and in XVI 19 a term for a

type of holm - oak .

Smyrni um (or smyrnion , a lsozmyrnium and zmyrnion ), ( l )usua lly Cre tan a lexanders ,Smyrnium perf olia tum, XIX187 , XX 186 , XXVII 13 3

13 6 ; (2 ) somet imes common

a lexand ers , S . olusa trum, XIX162 , 188

Solanum strychnon , XXVII13 2 .

Somphos cucurbita silv estris,XX 13 .

Sonchos - cus , soncum ), sow

INDEX OF PLANTS

the spina of India w ith trans

lucent , ebony - like wood (XII2 1 ) is of uncertain ident ity ;and the spina fullonia

(XVI 244 ; of . XXIV l l l ,XXVII 92 ) is the t ease l ,D ipsacus f u llonum.

Spinea , kind of grapa v ine ,

XIV 3 4 .

Spionia , a kind of grape w ine ,

XIV 3 4 .

Spiraea , ( 1 ) drop -wort , Spira eafi lipendu la ( 2 )meadow - swee t ,Spira ea u lma ria , XXI 5 3 .

Splenion h emion ion , XXV 45 .

Spondy lium , bear’

s foot , H erac

leum spondy lium, XII 12 8 ,XXIV 2 2 , 25 .

S tachys , in XXIV 13 6 perhaps

downy woundwort , S tachys

germa nica .

S tacte , a type of murra , XII 68 ,XIII 17 .

Stagonit is , ga lbanum gian t fen

ne l , F eru la ga lbaniflua , and

the re sin obtained from it , XII12 6.

S taphis , a type of larkspur ,D e lphinium s taphis agria ,

XXIII 17.

S taphy le v it-is a lba , XXIII 2 1.

S taphy l inus , the cu lt iv at edcarrot , Daucus ca rota . XIX88 , XX 3 0 , 3 2 , 3 3 , XXV 1 12 ,XXVIII 2 3 2 .

S taphy lodendron , b ladder nut ,

S taphy lea pinna ta , XVI 69 .

S tat ice , perhaps common thrift ,A rmeria malgaris , XXVI 5 1.

Stelephuros (a lso ca l led ortyx

and plantago ), plant ain,probab ly Plantago lagopus,XXI 10 1 .

Ste lis , mi st le toe , Viscum a lbum,

XVI 2 4 5.

S tephanit is , a kind of grape

v in e , XIV 42 .

S tephanome lis , perhaps goose

grass , Potenti l la anserina ,

XXVI 13 6 .

S tephanon'

Alexandri, spurge

laure l , Daphne mez ereum, XV13 2 .

S tergethron , house - leek , S emperv ivum arboreum, XXV 160 .

S tobru s , a tree imported fromCarmania for fum igat ion , un

ident ified , XII 7 9 .

S toebe pheos , XXI 9 1,'XXII

S toecha s , French lav ender, La vandu la s toechas , XIV l l l ,XXVI 42 , XXVII 1 3 1.

S torax (styrax ), officina ] storax ,

a resinous gum , or the t ree

producing it , S torax oflicina lis ,X 195, XII 8 1, 98 , 124 , 125 ,XIII 18 , XV 2 6,

'

XXIV 24 ,

XXVI 4 8.

Storbon , the resin of ladanum,

s .v . , XII 74 .

Strangias , a kind of w heat ,XVIII 64 .

S tra t iotes , th e great duck -we ed ,

Pistia s tratiotes (a tropica lplant ), XXIV 169 .

Strept is , a kind of grape , XIV

3 9 .

Stru1nus , ( I) ranun cu lus ,

XXV 174 ; ( 2 ) s trychnos ,

XXVII 68 .

S truth eum , quince , Cydonia vu l

garis , XIII 11, XV 3 8, 4 8,

58 , XXI 142 , XXIII 9 1, 10 3 .

S truthion radicu la , s .v . , XIX

4 8 , XXIV 96, XXVI 124 .

S trychnos , basica lly and gener

a l ly a t erm for the n igh t

shade , e spe cia l ly the b lacknigh tshade , S ola num nigrum,

some times syn onymous w ith

halicacabum , 8 .v . in some

cases with dorycnion , s .e .

See XXI 17 7 , 181, XXVI 120 ,

INDEX OF PLANTS

XXVII 60 , 68 , 13 2 , XXVIII17 7 .

Styrax . See S torax .

Suber , cork - oak , Quercus suber ,XVI 19 , 25 , 3 4 , 80 , 98, 106 ,12 6 , 189 , 2 12 , XVII2 3 4 , XXIV 13 .

Suil lus , mushroom , probablyBoletus edu lis , XVI 3 1, XXII96, 98 .

Surcula , a kind of grape- v ine ,

XIV 3 4 .

Syagrus , a kind of date , XIII 4 1.

Syce peplis , XXVII 119 .

Syllibum . See S illybum .

Symphy tum , usua l ly comfrey ,

S ymphytum ofiîcina le , XXVI45 , 8 1, 13 7 , 148 , 16 1, XXX115 . In XXVII 4 1 symphy tonpe traeum is probab ly S . tube

rosum, and in XIV 108 it is

equiv a len t to he lenium and

there fore probab ly e lecam

pane , Inu la helenium.

Syre on tordylon , sma l l hartwort , Tordy lium ofiîcina le,XXIV 177 .

Syr iaca siliqua , XXIII 15 1.

See Siliqua .

Syr ingias , a reed for makingfiu t es , XVI 164 .

Syrom molon , XXVI 3 3 .

Syrtica arbor , ne t t le - tree , Celtis

austra lis , XXIV 6.

Taeda , stone pine , Pinus cembra ,

XVI 44 , 52 , 58 , 6 1, 7 3 ,XVII 25 3 , XXIV 4 1, XXIX3 4 , XXX 24 , XXXV 4 1, 4 3 .

Ta lpona , a kind of grape- v ine ,

XIV 3 6 .

Tamarice myrice , tamarisk,Tamarix articu la ta , XXIV 67 ,102 .

Tamarix tamarice , XIII 116 ,XVI 80 , 90 , 108 , XXVI 86 ,XXVIII 8 1, 165, XXX 97 .

54 1

Tamnus , black bryony , Tamuscommunis , VIII 112 , XXI 86,XXV 9 2 .

Tarum , a loe—wood , A loe v era ,

XII 98 .

Taxa , c .l . for thasia , XV 13 0 .

Taxus , y'

ew - tree , Tarcus'

bacca la ,

XVI 50 , 5 1, 80 , 2 12 ,'

XXII 97 .XXIV 116.

Teleph ion , plant like urslane.

perhaps orpine , S e um te lephium, XXVII 13 7 .

Te lis , f enugreek , Trigone l lafoenum graecum, XIII 1 3 ,XXIV 184 .

Teramon and a teramon , giv en

by P liny (XVIII 155 ) a s

names of weed s in bean crops ,through care less reading of

Theophr . H . P. VIII 8 , 6 ,where the bean is charac

teriz ed as cookab le (répa

pov ) or uncookab le (cir e'

pa

nov ).Terebin thus , terebinth , Pistaciaterebinthus , XI 7 7 , XII 25 , 56,12 1, XIII 9 , 54 , 115 , XIV 112 ,122 , XVI 7 3 , 80 , 98 ,106, 20 3 , 204 , 205 , 2 3 1, 2 3 3 ,245 , XXIII 145 , XXIV 2 7 ,3 2 , 3 4 , 3 5, XXVII 20 ,XXVIII 205 , 252 , XXX 40 ,

75 , 114 , XXXI 12 1, XXXIV115 , 13 3 , 176 , XXXV 176.

Tetrad ice erica , XI 4 2 .

Te tra lix , yellow star - th ist le , Centaurea sols titia lis , XXI 95 .

Teuch itis , swee t - scen ted rush ,

Andropogon schoenanthus ,

XXI 120 .

Teucria teucrion , XXIV 13 0 ,XXV 99 , XXVI 3 5 , 75 .

Teucrion , in XXIV 13 0 , ger

mander, Teucrium chama edrys ,in XXV 45 and XXVI 7 7 ,spleen wort , Teucrium f lavum.

See XXVII 77 .

INDEX OF PLANTS

Teutha lis , a c .l. for thalattia s ,XXVII 113 .

Teutrion polium , XXI 44 .

Th a lassaegle potamaugis ,XXIV 164 .

Tha latt ia s=polygonum , XXVII113 . So Det le f sen a

'

nd Mayhofi , but the MSS . hav e ba la tta s , a latta s and ba la t tas .

Tha lictrum , meadow - rue , e ither

Tha lictrumfia vum or T . minus ,XXVII 13 8 .

Thapsi, v .l . for thlaspi, XIX17 1.

Thapsia , a poisonous shrub ,

drias plant , Thapsia garganica ,

XIII 124—12 6, XIX 17 3 ,

XXVI 22 .

Tharrupia , a kind of grape , XIV

3 9 .

Thasia , a kind of laurel , Laurusnobi lis , XV 13 0 .

Theange l is , an intox icat ing herb,

unknown , XXIV 164 .

The lygonon , ( I) perenni-a l mer

cury , Bl ercuria lis perenn is , or

tomen tosa , XXVI162 ; (2 ) satyrion , XX VI9 9 .

Thelygonos cra taegonos ,XXVII 62 . See a lso XX VI99.

Th e lyphonon scorpio , XXV122 ; aconi tum , XXVII4 , 9 .

The lypt eris , bracken , Pterisaqui lina , XXVII 7 8 .

Theobrot ion , probab ly ancien t

mi lk -wort , Euphorbia anti

quorum , XXIV 162 , 166.

Theriaca , a kind of grape v ine ,

XIV 1 17 .

Th erionarca ( th eronarca ) , probab ly o leander, N erium olean

der , see XX IV 16 3 and XXV

113 .

Th esium , ho lewort , Coryda lis

542

!O

s isymbrium

dens if lora ,XXI 10 7 , XXII

66 .

Th laspi, a kind of cress , v ariousident ified w ith ( 1 ) peppe rwort , Lepidium campes tre ;( 2 ) shepherd

’

s pur se , Capse l labursa pas te ris ; ( 3 ) Cochleariadraba , and (4 ) Imna ria annua ,

XXVII 13 9. In XIX 17 1

P liny cites thlaspi as

se condary name f or mustardth rough care less read ing ofDiosc . 2 156 W . or his

source ,

‘

and hi s re feren ce in

XXVII 140 to a se cond type

of th laspi, a lso called Persian mustard ,

”is another

garbling of the same account .

Thory be thron leon t 0 podion ,

XXVI 52 .

Thrya llis , a secondary name for

th e third type of ph lomis ,s .v . , XXI 10 1, XXV 12 1.

Thryselinum , perhaps a kind of

sion , XXV 14 1.

Th ya thyou , thyine—woodtre e , Ca l litri s quadriva lv is ,

XIII 100 . Se e a lso Citrus .

Thymbra , sav ory , S a tureia hor

tens is , XIX 165

Thymbraeums ilv estre , XX 24 7 .

Thyme laea , me z erlon , Daphnemez ereum, XIII 1 14 .

Thymum , ( 1 ) garden thyme ,

Thymus v ulgaris ; ( 2 ) Cre tanthym e , Thymbra capi ta ta , XI3 4 , 3 8 , 3 9 , 24 2 , XIV 1 11, XIX92 , 186 , XXI 56—57 , 70 , 14 7 ,154—157 , XXIII 20 , XXIV8 1, XXVI 42 , 55, XXVII 4 1.

Thyon thya .

Tibia lis , a kind of reed , XVI168 .

Tibulus , a kind of pine- tree ,

XVI 3 9 .

Tilia , linden , Ti lia tomentosa , XI

INDEX OF PLANTS

119 , 120 , 12 1, 124 , 13 6, 161,XXIII 2 3 , XXIV 13 5,XXVII 62 , XXXIII 10 8 .

Trixago , germander, T eucriumchama edrys , XXIV 13 0 , XXV167 , XXVI 14 9 .

Trychnos strychnos , XX 14 1,XXI 89 , 17 7. XXVII 60 .

Trygonis pas tinaca , IX 155 .

Tuber , 1 ) probably a form of

the common jujube , Ziz yphusvu lgaris , XII 113 , XV 4 7 ,XVI 10 3 , XVII 7 5 ; (2 )tru fiie , chi cfiy the b lacktruffi e , Tuber cibarium, XIX3 3—3 7 , 63 .

Tuber terrae , a spe cies of Gyeldmen , XXV 115 .

Tue , as a t erm for a tree , th e

frankincense—tree , Bosw e l liaCarteri , XII 55—57 , 67 , 7 6, 8 1,XVI 13 6, XIX 187 .

Tus t errae chamaepitys ,XXIV 2 9 .

Tussilago , co lt ’s foot , Tussilagofa rf a ra , XXVI 3 0 , 124 , 12 8,XXXI 44 .

Ulex , a shrub like rosemary ,

XXXIII 7 6.

U lmus , e lm , U lmus glabra , XI14 , XIII 55 , 58 , 67 , XIV 12 ,XV 57 , XVI 7 2 , 74 , 8 7 , 92 , 97 ,108 , 12 3 , 125 , 13 2 , 17 6 , 18 1,19 3 , 2 10 , 2 18 , 2 19 , 22 8—2 3 0 ,XVII 65, 7 6, 7 7 , 90 , 116 , 124 ,200 , 20 1, 2 10 , 2 52 , XVIII 240 ,

24 3 , 2 66 , 286, XXI 98 , XXIV48.

U lophonon , black type of chamae leon , Cardopa tium corymbosum, XXII 4 7 .

U lpicum , Cyprian garlic ,a formof A l lium sa tivum, XIX 1 12 .

U lv a , sedge , U lva conf erva , XVI4 , XVII 55 , 209 , XXIl l l .

Uncia lis , a kind of grape , XIV 4 2.

Unedo , s trawberry - tree , A rbutus

un edo, XII 15 , 3 7 , 67 , XIII120 , XV 96, 98 , XVI 80 , 126,XXIII 15 1. See Arbu tus .

Urceolaris , wa l l pe l litory , Par

ieta ria oflìcina lis , XXII 4 3 .

U rt ica , th e ne t t le , ch iefly the

st inging ne t t le , Urtica urens ,

and the large ne t t le , U . dioica ,

bu t a lso U. pilu lif era , U .

membranaceo , U . rupestris ,

and U . a trov irens , :X 16 3 ,XVI 9 1, XXI 92—9 3 (v ariou skinds ), XXII 3 1—3 8 , XXIV17 2 , XXVII 8 1, XXIX 68 ,XXX 52 , 78 , 90 , XXXII 102 ,13 5 ; U . urens , XV 3 1. The

urt ica marina (IX 14 6 , XXVI88 , XXXI 96, XXXII 102 ,13 5, 14 6 ) is not a plan t , but

th e sea - ne ttle .

U v a taminia , the fruit of the

tamnu s , XXIII 17 , 19 , XXVI13 8 , XXVIII 152 , 161, XXIX94 , XXX 82 .

Vaccinium , whort leberry , Vac

cinium myrtil lus , XVI 7 7 .

Ve la irio , XXII 158.

Venicula , a kind of grape- v ine ,

XIV 3 4 .

Vepris , thorn- bush , XVIII 2 26,

XXI 5 1, XXVI 92 , XXXII

50 .

Vera trum he l leborum , VIII152 , XIV 110 , XXV 52 , 124 ,13 3 , 13 9 , 170 , XXVI 13 8.

XXVIII 17 1.

Verbascum , l ) mul le in , Verbas

cum thapsus ; ( 2 ) V. sinua tum ;

3 ) V. ph lomoides or perhaps

Ph lomis lychnitis or f ruticosa ,

XXV 120 , 12 1, 14 3 , 166,XXVI 2 3 , 2 8 , 3 1, 3 2 , 4 4 , 92 ,122 , 126 , 12 7, 13 7, 144 , 14 9,XXVII 3 3 .

INDEX OF PLANTS

Verbena , in plura l the leav es or

twigs of plants used for

sacred purposes , usua l ly v er

v a in , Verbena ofiîcina lis , V119 , XXII 5 .

Verbenaca , v erv ain , Verbena

oflìcina lis , XXV 10 5 , 10 7 , 112 ,119 , 160 , 164 , 166 , XXVI 26 ,3 7 , 49 , 78, 87 , 100 , 10 1, 106,114 , 117 , 120 , 12 3 , 12 7 , 14 3 ,14 7 , 160 , XXVII 2 1, XXX3 5 .

Verrucaria he lios0 0 pium ,

XXII 59 .

Vesicaria , perhaps bladde r -wort ,U tricu laria sp. , or strawberrytoma to , Physa lis a lkelcengi ,XXI 17 7 .

Vet ton ica , be tony , Betonicaofiîcina lis , XXV 84 , 10 1, 12 2 ,125 , 12 7 , 12 8 , 145 , XXVI2 8 , 3 1, 3 2 , 3 3 , 3 5 , 3 8 , 40

4 2 , 4 4 , 4 5 , 54 , 74 , 75 , 7 7 ,78 , 105, 10 7 , 110 , 112—114 ,116—119 , 12 3 , 1 3 6, 13 7 , 149 ,15 1, 16 1.

Vibones , flowers of britannica

herba , XXV 2 1.

Vicaperv ica chamaedaphne ) ,periwinkle , Vinca herbacea ,

or double o tongue ,Ruscus hypo.

phyllum, XXI 68 , 17 2 .

Vicia , tare , Vicia sa tiva , XI

165 , XVI 24 6, XVIII 50 , 58 ,13 7 , 13 8 , 13 9 , 14 2 , 14 3 , 156,164 , 18 1, 187 , 198 , 202 , 257 ,3 14 .

Vimina lis sa lix , wil low bearingtwigs for pla iting, XVI 17 7 ,XVII 14 3 .

Vinaciola , a kind of grape- v ine .

XIV 3 8 .

Vio la , ( 1 ) stock , M atthiola in

cana ; ( 2 ) sweet v io le t , Violaadora ta , XI 3 9 , XII 3 9 , XIII14 1, XXI 14 , 2 7 , 3 5, 3 7 , 45 ,4 6, 64 , 68—70 , 13 0—13 1, XXIV

VOL. VII

12 8, 13 5, 159 , XXXIII 163 ,XXXVII 116.Virga sanguinea , cornel, Cornus

sanguin ea , XIX 180 , XXIV7 3 . See a lso Fru tex sangui

n eus .

Viscum , mist le toe Loran thus

europaeus and Viscum a lbum,

XIII 119 , 12 9 , XVI 3 1, 120 ,

2 4 3 , 24 5—25 1, XVII 2 3 9 , XX25 , 13 2 , 176 , XXII 4 5 , 4 7 ,10 3 , XXIII 4 3 , 6 1, XXIV 1 1,3 6 , XXVI 2 1, XXVII 50 ,XXVIII 158, 16 1, 162 , 245 ,XXX l l l , XXXII 3 1,XXXIII 94 .

V isulla , a kind of grape—v ine ,

XIV 2 8 , 3 1.

Vitex , the cha ste—tree , Vitex

agnus castus , XVI 209 , XXIV59—64 , XXVI 97 , XXX 3 5 ,50 , XXXI 44 , XXXII 29 .

Vitis , grape - v ine , Vi tis v inif era ,

III 4 1, VI 4 6, 7 9 , 9 1, XII 40 ,112 , 13 0—13 1, XIII 54 , 67 ,13 8, XIV 8—4 3 , 50 , 52 , 88,110 , 117 , 119, 12 6, XV 4 , 66,78 , XVI 72 , 8 1, 90 , 9 1, 99 , 10 1,102 , 104 , 115 , 117 , 118 , 12 1,125 , 12 6, 140 , 17 3 , 176 , 17 8 ,18 1, 186 , 209 , 2 14 , 24 1, XVII11, 14 , 17 , 19—2 3 , 25 , 2 9 , 3 0 ,3 3 , 40 , 4 7 , 4 9 , 55 , 59 , 67 , 78,84 , 90 , 9 1, 96 , 10 3 , 1 14—117 ,119 , 120 , 12 1, 13 3 , 152—2 15 ,2 17 , 2 22 , 22 3 , 2 26—22 9 , 2 3 2 ,2 3 3 , 2 3 4 , 2 3 8 , 2 3 9 , 240 , 24 1,246 , 24 7 , 2 50 , 254 , 257 , 258,2 6 1, 2 64 , 265 , XVIII 2 4 , 2 9 ,10 1, 13 8, 154 , 17 7 , 188 , 189 ,2 3 2 , 2 3 6 , 240 , 24 3 , 24 9 , 254 ,257 , 266 , 2 72 , 2 75 , 280 , 2 87 ,2 88, 2 9 3 , 2 94 , 3 15 , 3 28 , 3 29 ,3 3 4 , 3 3 6, 3 3 7 , 3 3 8 , XIX 87 ,159 , XX 4 , 84 , 92 , XXIII 2 ,3—6, 14 , 2 1—2 7 , 5 1, 97 , 13 5 ,13 7 , XXIV l , XXV 49 , 106,

545

INDEX OF

XXVII 119 , XXVIII 79,XXX 146 , XXXII 70 , 75 ,

XXXIII 5 1, 13 7 , XXXIV13 8 . Vit is as a seawe ed (XIII13 8 ) is Fucus spira lis .

Vit is a lba , common bryony ,

Bryonia dioica , or Cre tan

bryony , B . eretica ; V itis nigra ,

white bryony , B . a lba , X 157 ,

XX I 82 , XXIII 2 1—2 8.

Xiphion ,corn - dag, Gladiolus

segetum, XXV 13 7 , 1 3 8 , XXVI4 4 , 7 9, 9 4 , 10 1, 156 .

Xy loba lsamum , ba lsam -wood ,


XII 118 , XIII 13 , 15 , XXIX

56.

Xy locinn amomum,

wood , XII 9 1.

Xy lon , wood of cotton - tree , Gos

sypium a rboreum, XIX 14 .

Xypris , st inking iris , Iris f oeiidissima , XXI 14 3 .

cinn amon

Z ea , tw o—gra in ed whea t , Triti

cumdicoccum, in some passage s

PLANTS

perhaps e inkorn , T . monocoecum, XVIII 8 1, 8 2 , 9 3 , 1 12 ,

184 , 19 8 , XXII 124 .

Zeugita , a kind of reed , XVI169 .

Z ingibe ri or z inpiberi, ginger,Z ingiber ofilcina lis , XII 2 8 ,2 9 , XXI 117 .

Ziz yphu s , common jujube , Ziegphus vu lgaris , XII 109 , XV4 7 , XVII 7 5 , XXI 5 1.

Z milax , v . l . for smi lax , s .v . , XVI153 , XXI 52 .

Z mintha . Se e Men ta .

Z myrnion or zmyrnium , see

Smyrni um .

Z oophtha lmos a iz oiim ma jus ,grea t house - le ek , S emper.

vi vum tectorum . See XXV 160

for se v era l other Lat in names

of this p lantZ opyron t ion c l inopodium ,

XXIV 1 3 7 .

Zostera prasom, a type of sea .

weed , XIII 13 6.

Z ygia carpinus , horn - beam,

Ca rpinus betu lus , XVI 67 .

APPENDIXPlants described or indi ca ted , bu t not named .

XII 3 7 : white mangrov e , A vi »

cennia oflîcina lis .

XII 3 9 tamarind , Tama r indusind ica . Al so XI I 40 .

XII 4 7 (plant in Thrace similarto Indian nard ) : Va leriana

D ioscoridis .

XIII 65 WIimosa a spera ta

(ca lled aeschynomene in

XXIVXIII 12 9 species of dodder,

perhaps Cus cu ta f iliformis .

Cf . cadytas , XVI 244 .

546

XIII 13 8 : ( l ) (a leaf like leek )Ligurian grass—wrack , Pos idonia oceanica ; (2 ) (foliage ofbay and thyme ) a madre

pore .

XVI 2 2 1 t eak , Tectona grandis .

XVI 2 2 1 : calamanden w ood ,

D iospyros quaesita .

XIX 15 (thread made fromapple s and gourd s ) : cot ton

tree , Gossypium arboreum,

usua l ly ca l led gossipion.

LIST OF DISEASES

More important for our appreciation of antiqu ity than theidentification of specific diseases is to ascertain which , if

any , modern diseases were unknow n in the Hellenistic age .

Here the,ev idence , especially that relating to infectious fevers,

is most disappointing. These fevers are endemic in the

modern world , and figure largely in treat ises on pathology .

But the old medical w riters Hippocrates,’2 Ce lsus , Galen

and the many compilers w ho succeeded Ga len— do not

describe , or give treatment for, small - pox , chicken -

pox,

measles , scarlatina , typhoid or even influenza . The most thatcan be said is that in isolated clinical histories or in chanceaphoristic remarks one or other of them may be referred to ;the e v idence is strongest for d iphtheria . Moreover, in the

pseudo-Aristotelian Problems (VII 8) it is said that con

sumption , ophthalmia and the itch are infectious, but thatfevers are not . It is difficult to believe that a people w ho

knew that consumption is infectious would have called scarla

tina non—infectious if it had been endemi c among them.

The Romans borrowed many names of diseases from the

Greeks . U sually, of course , the Latin word refers to the

same disease as does the Greek, especially in the works ofmedical w riters . But care must be exercised ; Àe

’

wpa , for

instance , seems to be much narrower than lepra .

Celsus is by far the most trustworthy authority to followin identifying the di seases mentioned by Pliny, for both

were Romans, both (probably) laymen and nearly con

temporaries.

that itA egi lops .— A lacrimal fi stula a t

the angle near the nose .

A lbugo.— An unknow n kind of

white u_lcer on the eye . In

XXVI 5 160 used of a head

u lcer. The word occurs on ly inthe Vu lga te B ib le and in Pl iny .

A lopecia — A disease in wh ichthe hair f e l l out . Meanin glitera l ly f ox mange ,

”it is

trans lated “ mange in the

text . It is perhaps un sa fe to

l imit it to the modern a lopecia .

Ce lsus (VI 4 ) has a brie f ac

548

count of it , sayingoccurred in the hair and

board . H e distingu ishes it

from 6<,tia a zs , probably ring

worm , for this had a windingshape , wherea s a lopecia sub

quo libetfigura dila ta tur .

”

Amphemerinos .— Quotidian ma

laria .

Angina .— An acute swel ling in

the neck , genera l ly quinsy . A

loose term l ike our“

sore

throa t .

”Sometimes possibly

diph theria .

LIST OF DISEASES

Apa t er na .— Greek for abscess .

Argema .— A sma l l white u lcer,

part ]y on the cornea , part ly onthe s c lerot ic coat of th e eye .

Articu la rius morbus .— This in

XXII 3 4 is j oined to poda

gricus , and so means probablynot gout but arthrit is .

A s thma .— A ppa r e n t l y on ly

XXVI 3 4 . See also XXV 82 .

A trophus . W ast ing away ,

”

of a l l such cond itions , of whichph thisis is one .

Boa . A disease when the

body is red with pimples ,

”

XXIV 5 3 . See a lso XXVI120 . An exanthem not cer

tainly ident ified . Sh ingles isloca lised . It cannot be , a s

H ardouin though t , meas les ,because tha t disease seems to

hav e. been first described byRha z es .

Cachecta .— A pa tient w ho is in a

v ery bad sta te of hea lth some

t imes a consumpt iv e patient

is meant .

Cacoethes .— A Greek adj ect iv e

appl ied to sores that are v erydifficu lt or impossible to cure ;

ma lignant is the nearest ,but

not qui te exact , equiv a lent .

Ca lcu lus .— S tone or grav e l in

the b ladder .

Ca ligoZ— D imn ess of the eyes ,

hard to dist inguish f romnubecu la (film ) and ca ligatio

(mistiness ) .Carbuncu lus .

— In XXVI 5 , 6

seems cert a in ly to be an thrax ,

and P liny ’

s d escript ion re

semb les that of Celsus V 28, 1.

The word w as , howev er, usedof m inor a ffect ions ; for

example , ca rbuncu lus ocu li isa stye , and it is of ten used of

a bad abscess .

549

Carcinoma .— Superficia l malig

nant disea se , sev ere forms of

which a re ca l led cacoethe .

It seems imposs ible to d is .

t ing uish , a t leas t in Pliny ,

carcinoma from u lcera cacoethe,

phageda ena and gangraena .

Cardiacus .— Th e adject iv e ref ers

to e ither disease or pat ient .

Some times a simple a ilment ,heartburn , is re ferred to ,

at other t imes a serious

compla in t , sa id by W . G .

Spencer on Celsus III 19 to

be a kind of syncope . In fact

the re ference may be to anya ilment supposed _

to be con

nected with the heart .

Cepha laea .— Are taeus (III 2 )

ca l ls th is a sev ere , chronic

headache , and says that there

are 28é… p vpfa z . Persisten tn eura lgia , except when it

means ma laria l headache , mus t

b e the compla in t re ferred . to .

Cerium.— D escribed by W . G .

Spencer on Ce lsus Vas a fol l icular abscess amonghair . Its appearance

— xnpiovmeans honeycomb — en

ab les us to dis tinguish it frompanus it w as a lso of ten more

sev ere .

Chiragra .— Gou t or gou ty pa ins

in the hands . But see

podagra .

Cholera .— Perhaps nev er Asia tic

cholera , but cholera nos tras

and poss ibly certain types of

dysentery and sev ere diarrhoea . The word is . deriv edf rom xoÀn,

“

bile .

”

Cla vus — Wa 1 t , corn or ca l lus .

Coe liacus morbus .— W . G .

Spencer on Ce lsus IV

( last note ) says that the

author appears to be de

LIST OF DISEASES

scribing py loric spasm and

intes tinal a tony . Cf . Are taeus

IV 7 .

Collectio .— The most genera l

term for a boi] or abscess ,a gathering .

”

Colostra tio.

— Disease of babies

caused by the firs t milk .

Colum.— Colitis , or inflammat ion

of the colon .

Comitia lis morbus .— Epilepsy

and some times othe r fi t s .

Condy loma .— A sma ll tumour

in the anus due to inflamma t ion . See Ce lsus VI

Convu lsa .— Spra ins .

Cotidiana . Quot id ian ague ,ma laria with fev er occurringe v e ry day .

Des tilla tio .

— A runn ing coldin the head . Some times in

tern a l catarrh .

Duritia .— An indurat ion , from

wha te v er cause , in any part

of the body .

Dys interia .— Usua l ly dysentery ,

but probab ly also sev ere

d iarrhoea , howev er caused .

Dyspnoea .— D ifii culty of breath

ing, howev er caused .

E lephantias is .— The usual name

of leprosy . See XXVI 7 and

8 , where it is said to hav e

qu ickly d ied out in Ita ly .

En terocele .— H ernia .

Epinyctis .— Either ( I) a sore on

the eye—lid or 2 ) an erupt ion

caused by fl eas or bugs .

Epiphora .— Running from the

eyes as the resu lt of some

a ilmen t .

Eruptio .— A bursting ou t of

morb id mat ter , e ither thr ough

the skin or some times in oth er

way s .

Extuberatio.— A fleshy ex

crescence , perhaps not morbid .

The word apparen tly occurs

on ly in XXXI 104 .

Febris .— Fe v erishness , or e lse

one of the recognised types

of ma laria .

Fistu la .— Practica l ly synonym

ous with the modern term .

E lemina .— A sev ere congestion

of b lood around the ankles.

It is neuter plural .F luctio and fluxus .

— There seems

to be 'l it t l e if any diff erence inthe mean ing of these words— any flow , bu t usua l ly a mor

bid on e . P liny pre fers'

fluctio.

F ormica tio.— An irrita t ing wart .

S ee Ce lsus V 2 8, 14 .

Furf ur .— Scurf (anywh ere ) .

Fur uncu lus .— A boil , said by

Ce lsus (V 2 8 , 8 ) not to be

dangerou s , wh ereas P l iny(XXVI 125 ) says tha t it is

somet imes mortif erum ma lum.

Gangraena .— Gangrene , hard to

dist inguish from phageda ena

and u lcera serpentia .

Gemursa .— A disease the seat of

wh ich w as be tw een the toes .

It is sa id by P l in y (XXVI 8 )to hav e died ou t qu ickly in

Ita ly . See Lit tré ’s note .

G laucoma .— Opaqueness of the

crysta l line lens .

Grav edo .— The usual term for

the common cold .

Gremio .— Rheum .

H epa ticus .— A su fferer from any

liv er complain t .

H erpes .— A spreading erupt ion

on the skin .

Hydrocelicus .— A sui

‘

i erer fromhydrocele .

Hydrop is is .— Dropsy .

Hypochys is .— Cataract .

Ictericus —A sufferer fro'

mj aundice .

Ignis w a r .— Erysipelas . Per

LIST OF DISEASES

P erf ricti o.—Sometimes a sev ere

chi l l .Peripleumonicus .

— A sufi erer

from pneum onia .

Pernio .—Chi lb lain .

P es ti lentia .— P lague ; a te rm as

v ague a s the English , bu t

usua lly buboni c .

Phageda ena .— Gangrene , hard to

dist inguish from gangra ena .

In XXVI 100 an abnorma ldiseased appe t ite .

Ph legmon .— Inflammat ion be

nea th the skin .

Phreniticus .— Properly a su ff erer

from phrenitis or phrenesis ,

perni cious malaria aecom .

panied by raving . It a lsoref ers to th e symptom whennot caus ed by ma laria , for

in post-Hippocra t ic medica l

works it of ten seems equ i

v a lent to “

brain f ev er .

”Per »

haps somet im es meningitis .

Phthiria s is .— Ph th ir iasis , skin

di seas e caused by lice .

Phthisis .— Pulmonary consump

t ion .

Pituita .— Exces siv e mucus , in

any part of the body .

Pleuriticus .— A sufi erer from

pleurisy .

P lumbum in XXV 155, poin ts to

th e lead en b luis h co lour of

cert a in eye dis eases . Serenus

XIV 3 3 : si v ero horrendumduceni gla ucoma ta p lumbum .

Podagra .— Gout or

‘

gouty pains

in th e foot . Some t imes per

haps the resu lt of leadpoisonin g. See Spencer

’

s

Ce lsus I 4 64 . Pliny (XXVI100 ) says tha t the dis ease

w as on the in crease in hi s day .

The word (often with chiragra )re fers somet imes to pa ins

caused by senile degen erat ion .

Porrigo.— Dandrufi or scuri (on

hairy parts ) .Prurigo and pruri tus .

— Itch th e

words can scarce ly be di s

criminated , a lthough perhapspruritus te nds to b e us ed of

the symptom , prurigo of the

inf ect ion .

Psora .

— Sev era l skin di seases

are in cluded un der th is termamong wh ich a re itch and

perha ps leprosy .

Pterygium .— An inflamm a tory

sw e l lin g at the inn er angle of

the lower eye lid ; another

name for it is unguis . It a lsomeans a whi t low .

Pus u la .

— Pustul e or b lister .

Qua rta na .— Qua rtan ague , or

ma laria occurring a f te r inte r

v a ls of tw o day s . It w a s

reckoned the mi ldest form of

the di sea se .

Bamex .— H ern ia .

Regius morbus .— Jaundice .

Rhagades .— Ch aps .

R h e uma t i sm u s .— Ca t a r r h ,

whether of the nose , throat

or s tomach .

Ros io .— Gnaw ing pain in the

chest or bowe ls .

p ta .

— Torn mus c les e tc .

S cabies .— N ot our scabies , wh ich

is caused by th e itch mite ,

bu t described by Ce lsu s (V28 , 16 ) a s a hardening of the

skin , which grows ruddy and

burs ts in to pus tu les w ith

itching u lcera t ion . It in

e ludes many types of ecz ema .

S cabies of th e b ladder , a dis

ease of which the symptom w as

sca ly concret ions in the urin e .

S cabri tia .— D iseased roughness

of fingers , nail s , eyes , etc .

S ce lotyrbe .— Lameness of the

kne e cr a nkle .

LIST OF

S iria sis .— Probab ly some form

of suns troke .

Spasma .— Cramp.

Sp lenicus .— Su ff ering from en

largad or d isea sed spleen .

En largement of the sple en is

a common a iten e ff ect of

repeated at tacks of ma laria .

S tegna .

— See note on XXIII 120 .

S toma cace.— Scur vy of the

mouth .

S toma chicus .— It is doubt fu l

whe ther this means one withstomach trouble or one w ith

disease of the oesophagus .

It is a word not much used bymedica l w riters , bu t Cae lius

Aure lianus has section on

disease of the oesoph agus .

Al though the Romans dis

tingui shed (Ce lsus IV 1)s tomach from oesophagus

(stomach -

us can mean e ither ),they appear to hav e described

under the same name their

morbid condit ions . In Englishstomach ,

”a t least in popu

lar speech , is equa l ly v ague .

S tranguria .

— S trangury .

S truma .— A scrofulous sore .

S ufl usio.— Usua l ly cataract .

S uspiriosus .— Asthma t ic . Ap

parent ly popu lar word , as

it is rare ly found in the

medica l writers .

S yntecticus .— One was ting away ,

f rom what e v er cause .

Tertiana .— Tertian ague , ma

laria with an onset ev eryother day .

T esta .

— A brick - co loured spot

on the face . Se e XXVI 163

and XXVIII 185 .

Tetanus .— Te tanus . See Celsus

IV 6, 1 with Spencer’

s notes

on opis thotonus and emprosthotonus .

DISEASES

Tormina (neu t .— A genera l

word for colic . It a lso some

t imes means s trangury .

Tremulus .— One with morbid

tremors , pa lsied . Se e XX 85

pa ra lyticis et tremu lis .

Tuber .— A hard tumour .

Tumor .— Any morbid swe l ling .

Tussis .— A cough

— the com

pla int ra ther than the act .

Tympanicus .— One a ffl icted with

tympanites , a kind of dropsy ,

which makes the be l lyswe l l .Ulcus .

— A fav our ite word withPliny , usua l ly used in the

plura ] . U lcera manantia are

running sores , and u lceraputrescentia (serpentia ) in

e lude gangrene and super

ficia l ma l ignan t diseases .

Unguis .— Another name for

pterygium, an infl ammatoryswe l ling a t the inner angle of

t he lower eye lid .

Varix .— Varicose v e in .

Varus .— A pimple on the face .

Verruca .— VVart , a less wide

t erm than cla vus .

Vertigo.— Vert igo , usua l ly giddi

ness caused by il lness .

Viti ligo .— Th is inc ludes more

than one kind of psoriasis .

The Romans dist in guished

the dull white , the dark , and

the brigh t wh ite . Some t imes

perhaps leprosy .

Vomica .— Abscess ; any ga ther

ing of pus , but apparen t lylarger than furuncu lus . It w a s

somet imes in terna l , but panusw as superficial .

Zoster .— Th is gird le disease

w as herpes round the wa ist ,possibly sh ingles . P liny ca l lsit a form of erys ipe las ( ignissacer ), XXVI 12 1.

553

INDEX OF NAMES

Cleophan tus , XXVI 14 .

Clodiu s , Serv ius , XXV 24 .

Colch is , XX V 157 .

Co lumnae , cf . H ercul es .

Considia , XXIV 4 3 .

Corin thu s , XXIV 69 .

Cornu tus , Mani lius , XXVI 4 .

Crat euas , XXIV 167 ; XXV 8 , 62 .

Cre ta , XXIV 4 7 , 15 3 , 164 ;

XXV 92 , 110 ; XXVII3 4 , 99 , 14 1.

Cy l lene , XXV 26 .

Cyprus , XXVI 47 .

Democra tes , Serv ilius , XXIV4 3 ; XXV 87 .

Democritus , XXIV 156, 160 °

XXV 13 , 14 ; XXVI 19 ,

XXVII 14 1.

D icte , XXIV 164 .

Dieu ches , XXIV 14 5 .

Diocles , XXIV 185 ; XXVI 10.

Diodotus , ( l ) , XXIV 14 5 ;cf . Pe tronius .

D iomedes , cf . Limes .

D ionysiu s , XXIV 8.

Drui dae , XXIV 10 3 .

Drusus , XXV 52 .

Elephan tine , XXIV 163 .

E lis , XXV 67 .

Erasistra tus , XXIV 7 7 ;72 ; XXVI lO.

E truria , XXIV 152 .

Euboea , XXV 94 .

Europa , XXIV 74 ; XXVI 1.

XXV

Fauni , XXV 2 9.

Frisi , XXV 2 1.

Gaetu li, XXV 7 9 .

Ga lat ia , XXIV 109 ;157 .

Ga l li , Ga llia , XXIV 10 3 ; XXV25 , 28 , 7 9 , 84 , 10 3 , 106 ;XXVI l , 4 2 ; XXVII 4 5 , 10 1.

Gentius , XXV 7 1.

556

XXV 3 5 ,

Germania , XXV 20 .

Germanicus , cf . Caesar.

G laucias , XXIV 142 , 145.

Graeci, Graecia , XXIV 51, 64 ,69 , 8 1, 96, 102 , 105 , 124 , 129 ,13 8 , 13 9 , 14 3 , 150 , 169 , 176 ;XXV 8 , 16, 24 , 2 6 , 3 5, 3 8, 80 ,84 , 109 , 113 , 120 , 154 , 168 ,172 ; XXVI 9 7 , 10 8 , 13 2 , 13 3 ;XXVII 4 1, 4 2 , 54 , 78 , 7 9 , 9 1,113 , 125 , 1 3 2 .

Ida , XXIV 12 3 ; XXVII 12 .

Illyrii , Il lyricum , XXV 7 1 ;XXVI 1, 87 .

Indi, India , XXIV 5 , 16 1.

Indus f t. , XXIV 164 .

Isiaci, XXVII 5 3 .

Ita li, Ita lia , XXV 11, 2 7 , 52 , 83 ,84 , 160 , 162 ; XXVI 1, 3 , 5 , 7 ,8, 16, 19 , 100 ; XXVII 6 3 , 99.

Juba , XXV 14 , 7 7 , 78 .

Judaea , XXIV 85 ; XXVI 60

XXVII 15 .

Lace tania , XXV 17.

Laconi ca , XXV 94 .

E sca le , XXVI 82 .

H e lena , XXV 12 .

H e licon , XXV 4 9 .

H erac lea , XXVII 4 .

H ercul es , XXV 3 2 , 3 4 , 3 5 , 75 ;XXVII 4 ; columnae H . ,

XXVII 2 .

H erophi lus , XXV 15, 58 ; XXVI11.

H esiod , XXV 12 .

H icesius , XXVII 3 1.

H ierosolyma , XXVII 15 .

Hippocrat e s , XXIV 14 7 ; XXV40 ; XXVI 10 , 82 , 12 3 , 158 .

Hispania , XXIV 111 ; XXV 17 ,84 , 85 ; XXVI l .

H omerus , XXV 11, 13 , 2 6, 27

7 7 .

INDEX OF NAMES

Laecanius , cf . Bassus Lenaeus

(Pompe ius ) , XXV 5, 7 .

Lenaeus , XXV 63 .

Libanus , XXIV 164 .

Liber, XXIV 2 .

Limes Diomedis , XXV 94 .

Lucu l lus , XXVI 19 .

Lycaeus , XXV 67 .

Lycia , XXV 67 .

Lysimachus , XXV 72 .

Macedonia , XXV 3 1.

Maeotis , XXV 82 ; XXVII 2 .

Magnus , cf . Pompe ius .

Magu s , Magi, XXIV 72 , 156, 160 ,164 , 165 , 167 ; XXV 13 . 106.12 9 ; XXVI 19 , 20 .

Mani lius , c f . Cornu tus.

Mara thon , XXV 75 .

Marcius , Q . , XXVI 5 .

Marsi, XXV Il , 86 ; Marsicumbe l lum , XXV 52 .

Mausolus , XXV 7 3 .

Medea , XXV 10 .

Melampou s , XXV 47 .

Mercurius , XXV 2 6, 3 8 .

Merce , XXIV 163 .

Messen ia , XXV 67 ; XXVII12 .

Me trodorus , XXV 8.

Minerv a , XXIV 17 6 ; XXV

Mithridate s , XXV 5 , 62.

Musa , XXV 77 .

Musa eus , XXV 12 .

Mysia , XXIV 163 .

Narbonensis , XXVI 5.

Nerv esia , XXV 86.

Nicander, XXVI 103 .

Nilus , XXIV 169 .

Nisyrus , XXIV 112 .

Oeta , XXV 4 8 .

Orchomenia , XXV 75 .

Orpheus , XXV 12.

Rh enus fl XXV 20.

Rhodii, XXIV 112 .

Roma , Roman i, XXIV 5 ; XXV6, 108 , 169 ; XXVI

Rubrum , mare , XXIV 5.

Ru fus , Julius , XXVI 5.

Samothrace , XXV 117 .

Sarma t ia , XXVI 98.

Scythae , Scy thia , XXV 83 ;XXVI 14 6 ; XXVII 3 1.

Serv ilius (Marcus ), XXIV 4 3 .

Su l la , XXVI 13 8 .

Susa , XXIV 164 ; XXV 154 .

557

Panacia , XXV 3 0 .

Parnasus , XXIV 17 8 , 179 ; XXV94 .

Parthi. Parthia , XXV 154

XXVII 8 3 .

Pau l lus , L . , XXVI 5.

Pe lius , M ons , XXV 94 .

Pen ius , XXV 76.

Persae , XXIV 162 , 165 ; XXVI18 , 19 .

Persis , XXIV 164 , 165 ; XXV 13 .

Pe tronius D iodotus , XXV 110 .

Pharmaces , XXV 3 3 .

Pha rsa lia , XXVI 19 .

Phasis , XXV 12 7 ; XXVI 4 3 .

Pheneus, XXV 2 6 ; XXVI 46.

Pholoe , XXV 67 .

Phrygia , XXVII 145.

Picenum , XXVII 107 .

Pisidia , XXV 46.

Pompeius , ( l ), cf . Lenaeus ;Magnus , XXV 5 , 7 ; XXVI 7 .

Pomptinae , pa ludes , XXVI 19 .

Pontus , XXV 63 ; XXVII 45 .

Potniae , XXV 94 .

Praxagoras , XXVI 10 , 22Proe tides , XXV 47 .

Psylli, XXV 12 3 .

Pyra , XXV 49.

Pythagoras , XXIV 116, 156 ,

158 , 159 . 160 ; XXV 13 .

INDEX OF NAMES

Syria , Syri , XXIV'

3 3 ,XXVI 4 7 ;

Taposiris , XXVII 5 3 .

Tarad ast ili , XXIV 161.

Taurus , XXV 13 6.

Te lephus , XXV 4 2 .

Te le thrius , XXV 94 .

Teucer, XXV 4 5 .

Teutones , XXVI 19 .

Thebani , XXVII 145 .

Th emison , XXV 58 , 80.

Th eodorus , XXIV 186.

Theophr astus , XXV 14 ,

XXVI 99 6 3 .

Xanthus , XXV 14 .

Xenocra tes , XXVII 89.

Zeno, XXV 50.

Thessa lia , XXV 7 6, 94 ; XXVII65.

Thracia , XXV 8 3 ; XXVII 145 .

Timon , XXIV 187 .

Troas , XXVII 12 .

Ty lo, XX V 14 .

Valgius , C XXV 4 .

Varro , M . , XXV 24 ; XXVI 14 .

Venet i, XXVI 42 .

Ve t tones , XXV 84 .

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