Delphi Complete Works of Pliny the Elder
Page 174
Incisions are sometimes made in the ivy to obtain the juice, which is used for carious teeth, it having the effect of breaking them, it is said; the adjoining teeth being fortified with wax against the powerful action of the juice. A kind of gum even is said to be found in the ivy, which, it is asserted, is extremely useful, mixed with vinegar, for the teeth.
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CHAP. 48.
THE CISTHOS: FIVE REMEDIES.
The Greeks give the name of “cisthos” — a word very similar to “cissos,” the Greek name of the ivy — to a plant which is somewhat larger than thyme, and has a leaf like that of ocimum. There are two varieties of this plant; the male, which has a rose-coloured blossom, and the female, with a white one. The blossom of either kind, taken in astringent wine, a pinch in three fingers at a time, is good for dysentery and looseness of the bowels. Taken in a similar manner twice a day, it is curative of inveterate ulcers: used with wax, it heals burns, and employed by itself it cures ulcer. ations of the mouth. It is beneath these plants more particularly that the hypocisthis grows, of which we shall have occasion to speak when treating of the herbs.
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CHAP. 49.
THE CISSOS ERYTIRANOS: TWO REMEDIES. THE CHAMÆCISSOS: TWO REMIEDIES. THE SMILAX: THREE RE- MEDIES. THE CLEMATIS: EIGHTEEN REMEDIES.
The plant called “cissos erythranos” by the Greeks, is similar to the ivy: taken in wine, it is good for sciatica and lumbago. The berries, it is said, are of so powerful a nature as to produce bloody urine. “Chamæcissos” also is a name given by them to a creeping ivy which never rises from the surface of the ground: bruised in wine, in doses of one acetabulum, it is curative of affections of the spleen, the leaves of it being applied topically with axle-grease to burns.
The smilax also, otherwise known as the “anthophoros,” has a strong resemblance to ivy, but the leaves of it are smaller. A chaplet, they say, made of an uneven number of the leaves, is an effectual cure for head-ache. Some writers mention two kinds of smilax, one of which is all but perennial, and is found climbing the trees in umbrageous valleys, the berries hanging in clusters. These berries, they say, are remarkably efficacious for all kinds of poisons; so much so indeed, that infants to whom the juice of them has been habitually administered, are rendered proof against all poisons for the rest of their life. The other kind. it is said, manifests a predilection for cultivated localities, and is often found growing there; but as for medicinal properties, it has none. The former kind, they say, is the smilax, the wood of which we have mentioned as emitting a sound, if held close to the ear.
Another plant, similar to this, they call by the name of “clematis:” it is found adhering to trees, and has a jointed stem. The leaves of it cleanse leprous sores, and the seed acts as an aperient, taken in doses of one acetabulum, in one hemina of water, or in hydromel. A decoction of it is prescribed also for a similar purpose.
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CHAP. 50. (11.)
THE REED: NINETEEN REMEDIES.
We have already treated of twenty-nine varieties of the reed, and there is none of her productions in which that mighty power of Nature, which in our successive Books we have described, is more fully displayed than in this. The root of the reed, pounded and applied to the part affected, extracts the prickles of fern from the body, the root of the fern having a similar effect upon splinters of the reed. Among the numerous varieties which we have described, the scented reed which is grown in Judæa and Syria as an ingredient in our unguents, boiled with hay-grass or parsley-seed, has a diuretic effect: employed as a pessary, it acts as an emmenagogue. Taken in drink, in doses of two oboli, it is curative of convulsions, diseases of the liver and kidneys, and dropsy. Used as a fumigation, and with resin more particularly, it is good for coughs, and a decoction of it with myrrh is useful for scaly eruptions and running ulcers. A juice, too, is collected from it which has similar properties to those of elaterium.
In every kind of reed the part that is the most efficacious is that which lies nearest the root; the joints also are efficacious in a high degree. The ashes of the Cyprian reed known as the “donax,” are curative of alopecy and putrid ulcers. The leaves of it are also used for the extraction of pointed bodies from the flesh, and for erysipelas and all kinds of gatherings. The common reed, beaten up quite fresh, has also considerable extractive powers, and not in the root only, for the stem, it is said, has a similar property. The root is used also in vinegar as a topical application for sprains and for pains in the spine; and beaten up fresh and taken in wine it acts as an aphrodisiac. The down that grows on reeds, put into the ears, deadens the hearing.
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CHAP. 51.
THE PAPYRUS AND THE PAPER MADE FROM IT: THREE REMEDIES.
Of a kindred nature with the reed is the papyrus of Egypt; a plant that is remarkably useful, in a dried state, for dilating and drying up fistulas, and, by its expansive powers, opening an entrance for the necessary medicaments. The ashes of paper prepared from the papyrus are reckoned among the caustics: those of the plant, taken in wine, have a narcotic effect. The plant, applied topically in water, removes callosities of the skin.
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CHAP. 52.
THE EBONY: FIVE REMEDIES.
The ebony-tree does not grow in Egypt even, as we have already stated, and it is not our intention to speak here of the medicinal properties of the vegetable productions of foreign climates. Still, however, the ebony must not be omitted, on account of the marvels related of it. The saw-dust of this wood, it is said, is a sovereign remedy for diseases of the eyes, and the pulp of the wood, rubbed upon a whetstone moistened with raisin wine, dispels all films which impede the sight. The root too, they say, applied with water, is curative of white specks in the eyes, and, with the addition of root of dracunculus, in equal proportions, and of honey, of cough. Medical men reckon ebony also in the number of the caustics.
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CHAP. 53
THE RHODODENDRON: ONE REMEDY.
The rhododendron has not so much as found a Latin name among us, its other names being “rhododaphne” and “nerium.” It is a marvellous fact, but the leaves of this plant are poisonous to quadrupeds; while for man, if taken in wine with rue, they are an effectual preservative against the venom of serpents. Sheep too, and goats, it is said, if they drink water in which the leaves have been steeped, will die immediately.
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CHAP. 54.
THE RHUS OR SUMACH-TREE; TWO VARIETIES OF IT: EIGHT REMEDIES. STOMATICE.
Nor vet has the tree called “rhus” any Latin name, although it is employed in numerous ways. Under this name are comprehended a wild plant, with leaves like those of myrtle, and a short stem, which is good as an expellent of tapeworm; and the shrub which is known as the “currier’s plant,” of a reddish colour, a cubit in height, and about the thickness of one’s finger, the leaves of which are dried and used, like pomegranate rind, for curing leather.
Medical men also employ the leaves of these plants for the treatment of contusions, and for the cure of cœliac affections, and of ulcers of the rectum and phagedænic sores; for all which purposes they are pounded with honey and applied with vinegar. A decoction of them is injected for suppurations of the ears. With the branches, boiled, a stomatice is also made, which is used for the same purposes as that prepared from mulberries; it is more efficacious, however, mixed with alum. This preparation is applied also to reduce the swelling in dropsy.
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CHAP. 55.
RHUS ERYTHROS: NINE REMEDIES.
Rhus erythros is the name given to the seed of this shrub. It possesses properties of an astringent and cooling nature, and is used as a seasoning for provisions, in place of salt. It has a laxative effect, and, used in conjunction with silphium, it gives a finer flavour to meat of all kinds. Mixed with honey, it is curative
of running ulcers, pimples on the tongue, contusions, bruises, and excoriations. It causes ulcers of the head to cicatrize with the greatest rapidity; and taken with the food, it arrests excessive menstruation.
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CHAP. 56.
THE ERYTHIRODANXU: ELEVEN REMEDIES.
The erythrodanus, by some called “ereuthodanus,” and in Latin, “rubia,” is quite a different plant. It is used for dyeing wool, and skins for leather are prepared with it. Used medicinally, it is a diuretic, and, employed with hydronel, it is turative of jaundice. Employed topically with vinegar, it leals lichens; and a potion is prepared from it for sciatica and paralysis, the patient while using it taking a bath daily. The root of it and the seed are effectual as an emmenagogue the act astringently upon the bowels, and disperse gatherings. The branches, together with the leaves, are applied to wounds inflicted by serpents; the leaves too have the property of staining the hair. I find it stated by some writers that this shrub is curative of jaundice, even if worn as an amulet only, and looked at every now and then.
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CHAP. 57.
THE ALYSSON: TWO REMEDIES.
The plant known as the “Alyson” differs only from the preceding one in the leaves and branches, which are more diminitive. It receives its name from the fact, that, taken in vinetar and worn as an amulet, it prevents persons bitten by dogs rom becoming rabid. It is a marvellous fact too, that is added to the effect that the person bitten has only to look at thi shrub, and the flow of corrupt matter from the wound will b staunched immediately.
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CHAP. 58.
THE RADICULT OR STRUTHION: THIRTEEN REMEDIES. THE APOCYNUMI: TWO OBSERVATIONS UPON IT.
The adicula, which we have already mentioned as being called “struthion” by the Greeks, is used by dyers for preparing Wool. A decoction of it, taken internally, is curative of jaunoce and diseases of the chest. It is diuretic also, and laxative and acts as a detergent upon the uterus, for which reasons medical men have given it the name of the “golden beverage.” Taken with honey, it is a sovereign remedy for cough; and it is used for hardness of breathing, in doses of a spoonful. Applied with polenta and vinegar to the pats affected, it removes leprous sores. Used with panax and not of the caper-plant, it breaks and expels calculi, and a decoction of it in wine with barley-meal disperses inflamed tumours. It is used as an ingredient in emollient plasters and eye-sakes for the sight, and is found to be one of the most useful stenutories known; it is good too for the liver and the spleen. Taken in hydrormel, in doses of one denarius, it effects the cure of asthma, as also of pleurisy and all pains in the sides.
The apocynum is a shrub with leaves like those of ivy, hit softer, and not so long in the stalk, and the seed of it is pointed and downy, with a division running down it, and a very powerful smell. Given in their food with water, the eed is poisonous to dogs and all other quadrupeds.
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CHAP. 59.
ROSEMARY: EIGHTEEN REMEDIES.
There are two kinds of rosemary; one of which is baren, and the other has a stem with a resinous seed, known as “cachrys.” The leaves have the odour of frankincase. The root, applied fresh, effects the cure of wounds, proapsus of the rectum, condylomata, and piles. The juice f the plant, as well as of the root, is curative of jaundice, and such diseases as require detergents; it is useful also for the sight. The seed is given in drink for inveterate diseases of the chest, and, with wine and pepper, for affections of the uteus; it acts also as an emmenagogue, and is used with meal o darnel as a liniment for gout. It acts also as a deterget upon freckles, and is used as an application in diseases which require calorifics or sudorifics, and for convulsions. The plant itself, or else the root, taken in wine, increases the milk, and the leaves and stem of the plant are applied with vinegar to scrofulous sores; used with honey, they are very useful for cough.
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CHAP. 60.
THE SEED CALLED CACHRYS.
As already stated, there are several kinds of cachrys; but that which is produced by rosemary above-mentioned, when rubbed, is found to be of a resinous nature. It neutralizes poisons and the venom of animals, that of serpents excepted. It acts also as a sudorific, dispels griping pains in the bowels, and increases the milk in nursing women.
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CHAP. 61.
THE HERB SAVIN: SEVEN REMEDIES.
Of the herb savin, known as “brathy” by the Greeks, there are two varieties, one of them with a leaf like that of the tamarix, the other with that of the cypress; for which reason some persons have called this last the Cretan cypress. It is used by many for fumigations, as a substitute for frankin- cense; employed in medicine, it is said to have the same effect as cinnamon, if taken in doses twice as large. It reduces gatherings, disperses corrosive sores, acts as a detergent upon ulcers, and, used as a pessary and as a fumigation, brings away the dead fœtus. It is employed as a topical application for erysipelas and carbuncles, and, taken with honey in wine, is curative of jaundice.
The smoke of this plant, they say, cures the pip in all kinds of poultry.
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CHAP. 62.
SELAGO: TWO REMEDIES.
Similar to savin is the herb known as “selago.” Care is taken to gather it without the use of iron, the right hand being passed for the purpose through the left sleeve of the tunic, as though the gatherer were in the act of committing a theft. The clothing too must be white, the Feet bare and washed clean, and a sacrifice of bread and wine must be made before gathering it: it is carried also in a new napkin. The Druids of Gaul have pretended that this plant should be carried about the person as a preservative against accidents of all kinds, and that the smoke of it is extremely good for all maladies of the eyes.
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CHAP. 63.
SAMOLUS: TWO REMEDIES.
The Druids, also, have given the name of “samolus” to a certain plant which grows in humid localities. This too, they say, must be gathered fasting with the left hand, as a preservative against the maladies to which swine and cattle are subject. The person, too, who gathers it must be careful not to look behind him, nor must it be laid anywhere but in the troughs from which the cattle drink.
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CHAP. 64.
GUM: ELEVEN REMEDIES.
We have already spoken of the different kinds of gum; the better sort of each kind will be found the most effective. Gum is bad for the teeth; it tends to make the blood coagulate, and is consequently good for discharges of blood from the mouth. It is useful for burns, but is bad for diseases of the trachea. It exercises a diuretic effect, and tends to neutralize all acridities, being astringent in other respects. The gum of the bitter-almond tree, which has the most astringent properties of them all, is calorific also in its effects. Still, however, the gum of the plum, cherry, and vine is greatly preferred: all which kinds, applied topically, are productive of astringent and desiccative effects, and, used with vinegar, heal lichens upon infants. Taken in must, in doses of four oboli, they are good for inveterate coughs.