Delphi Complete Works of Pliny the Elder

by Pliny the Elder

  Thryselinum is a plant not unlike parsley; the root of it, eaten, carries off pituitous humours from the head.

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  CHAP. 91. (12.)

  REMEDIES FOR DISEASES OF THE EYES.

  It is generally thought that the greater centaury strengthens the sight, if the eyes are fomented with it steeped in water; and that by employing the juice of the smaller kind, in combination with honey, films and cloudiness may be dispersed, marks obliterated, and small flies removed which have got into the eve. It is thought also that sideritis is curative of albugo in beasts of burden. As to chelidonia, it is marvellously good for all the affections above mentioned. Root of panaces is applied, with polenta, to defluxions of the eyes; and for the purpose of keeping them down, henbane-seed is taken, in doses of one obolus, with an equal proportion of opium, in wine. Juice, too, of gentian is used as a lini- ment, and it sometimes forms an ingredient in the more active eyesalves, as a substitute for meconium. Euphorbia, applied in the form of a liniment, improves the eyesight, and for ophthalmia juice of plantago is injected into the eyes.

  Aristolochia disperses films upon the eyes; and iberis, attached to the head with cinquefoil, is curative of defluxions and other diseases of the eyes. Verbascum is applied topically to defluxions of the eyes, and vervain is used for a similar purpose, with rose oil and vinegar. For the treatment of cataract and dimness of sight, cyclaminos is reduced to a pulp and divided into lozenges. Juice, too, of peu- cedanum, as already mentioned, mixed with meconium and oil of roses, is good for the sight, and disperses films upon the eyes. Psyllion, applied to the forehead, arrests defluxions of the eyes.

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  CHAP. 92. (13.)

  THE ANAGALLIS, OR CORCHORON; TWO VARIE- TIES OF IT: SIX REMEDIES.

  The anagallis is called “corchoron” by some. There are two kinds of it, the male plant, with a red blossom, and the female, with a blue flower. These plants do not exceed a palm in height, and have a tender stem, with diminutive leaves of a rounded form, drooping upon the ground. They grow in gardens and in spots covered with water, the blue anagallis being the first to blossom. The juice of either plant, applied with honey, disperses films upon the eyes, suffusions of blood in those organs resulting from blows, and argema with a red tinge: if used in combination with Attic honey, they are still more efficacious. The anagallis has the effect also of dilating the pupil; hence the eye is anointed with it before the operation of couching for cataract. These plants are employed also for diseases of the eyes in beasts of burden.

  The juice, injected into the nostrils, which are then rinsed with wine, acts as a detergent upon the head: it is taken also, in doses of one drachma, in wine, for wounds inflicted by serpents. It is a remarkable fact, that cattle will refuse to touch the female plant; but if it should so happen that, deceived by the resemblance — the flower being the only distinguishing mark — they have accidentally tasted it, they immediately have recourse, as a remedy, to the plant called “asyla,” but more generally known among us as “ferus oculus.” Some persons recommend those who gather it, to prelude by saluting it before sunrise, and then, before uttering another word, to take care and extract the juice immediately if this is done, they say, it will be doubly efficacious.

  As to the juice of euphorbia, we have spoken of its properties at sufficient length already. In cases of ophthalmia, attended with swelling, it will be a good plan to apply wormwood beaten up with honey, as well as powdered betony.

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  CHAP. 93.

  THE ÆGILOPS : TWO REMEDIES.

  The fistula of the eye, called “ægilops,” is cured by the agency of the plant of the same name, which grows among barley, and has a leaf like that of wheat. The seed is pounded for the purpose, and applied with meal; or else the juice is extracted from the stem and more pulpy leaves, the ears being first removed. This juice is incorporated with meal of three-month wheat, and divided into lozenges.

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  CHAP. 94.

  MANDRAGORA, CIRCÆON, MORION, OR HIPPOPHLOMOS; TWO VARIETIES OF IT: TWENTY-FOUR REMEDIES.

  Some persons, too, were in the habit of employing mandragora for diseases of the eyes; but more recently the use of it for such a purpose has been abandoned. It is a well-ascertained fact, however, that the root, beaten up with rose oil and wine, is curative of defluxions of the eyes and pains in those organs; and, indeed, the juice of this plant still forms an ingredient in many medicaments for the eyes. Some persons give it the name of “circæon.” There are two varieties, the white mandragora, which is generally thought to be the male plant, and the black, which is considered to be the female. It has a leaf narrower than that of the lettuce, a hairy stem, and a double or triple root, black without and white within, soft and fleshy, and nearly a cubit in length.

  Both kinds bear a fruit about the size of a hazel-nut, enclosing a seed resembling the pips of a pear in appearance. The name given to the white plant by some persons is “arsen,” by others “morion,” and by others again, “hippophlomos.” The leaves of it are white, while those of the other one are broader, and similar to those of garden lapathum in appearance. Persons, when about to gather this plant, take every precaution not to have the wind blowing in their face; and, after tracing three circles round it with a sword, turn towards the west and dig it up. The juice is extracted both from the fruit and from the stalk, the top being first removed; also from the root, which is punctured for the purpose, or else a decoction is made of it. The filaments, too, of the root are made use of, and it is sometimes cut up into segments and kept in wine.

  It is not the mandragora of every country that will yield a juice, but where it does, it is about vintage time that it is collected: it has in all cases a powerful odour, that of the root and fruit the most so. The fruit is gathered when ripe, and dried in the shade; and the juice, when extracted, is left to thicken in the sun. The same is the case, too, with the juice of the root, which is extracted either by pounding it or by boiling it down to one third in red wine. The leaves are best, kept in brine; indeed, when fresh, the juice of them is a baneful poison, and these noxious properties are far from being entirely removed, even when they are preserved in brine. The very odour of them is highly oppressive to the head, although there are countries in which the fruit is eaten. Persons ignorant of its properties are apt to be struck dumb by the odour of this plant when in excess, and too strong a dose of the juice is productive of fatal effects.

  Administered in doses proportioned to the strength of the patient, this juice has a narcotic effect; a middling dose being one cyathus. It is given, too, for injuries inflicted by serpents, and before incisions or punctures are made in the body, in order to ensure insensibility to the pain. Indeed, for this last purpose, with some persons, the odour of it is quite sufficient to induce sleep. The juice is taken also as a substitute for hellebore, in doses of two oboli, in honied wine: hellebore, however, is more efficacious as an emetic, and as an evacuant of black bile.

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  CHAP. 95.

  HEMLOCK: THIRTEEN REMEDIES.

  Hemlock, too, is a poisonous plant, rendered odious by the use made of it by the Athenian people, as an instrument of capital punishment: still, however, as it is employed for many useful purposes, it must not be omitted. It is the seed that is noxious, the stalk being eaten by many people, either green, or cooked in the saucepan. This stem is smooth, jointed like a reed, of a swarthy hue, often as much as two cubits in height, and branchy at the top. The leaves are like those of coriander, only softer, and possessed of a powerful odour. The seed is more substantial than that of anise, and the root is hollow and never used. The seed and leaves are possessed of refrigerating properties; indeed, it is owing to these properties that it is so fatal, the cold chills with which it is attended commencing at the extremities. The great remedy for it, provided it has not reached the vitals, is wine, which is naturally of a wa
rming tendency; but if it is taken in wine. it is irremediably fatal.

  A juice is extracted from the leaves and flowers; for it is at the time of its blossoming that it is in its full vigour. The seed is crushed, and the juice extracted from it is left to thicken in the sun, and then divided into lozenges. This preparation proves fatal by coagulating the blood — another deadly property which belongs to it; and hence it is that the bodies of those who have been poisoned by it are covered with spots. It is sometimes used in combination with water as a medium for diluting certain medicaments. An emollient poultice is also prepared from this juice, for the purpose of cooling the stomach; but the principal use made of it is as a topical application, to check defluxions of the eyes in summer, and to allay pains in those organs. It is employed also as an ingre- dient in eyesalves, and is used for arresting fluxes in other parts of the body: the leaves, too, have a soothing effect upon all kinds of pains and tumours, and upon defluxions of the eyes.

  Anaxilaüs makes a statement to the effect, that if the mamillæ are rubbed with hemlock (luring virginity, they will always be hard and firm: but a better-ascertained fact is, that applied to the mamillæ, it dries up the mill in women re- cetntly delivered; as also that, applied to the testes at the age of puberty, it acts most effectually as an antaphrodisiac. As to those cases in which it is recommended to take it internally as a remedy, I shall, for my own part, decline to mention them. The most powerful hemlock is that grown at Susa, in Parthia, the next best being the produce of Laconia, Crete, and Asia. In Greece, the hemlock of the finest quality is that of Megara, and next to it, that of Attica.

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  CHAP. 96.

  CRETHMOS AGRIOS : ONE REMEDY.

  Crethmos agrios, applied to the eyes, removes rheum; and, with the addition of polenta, it causes tumours to disappear.

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  CHAP. 97.

  MOLYBDÆNA: ONE REMEDY.

  Molybdæna also grows everywhere in the fields, a plant commonly known as “plumbago.” It has leaves like those of lapathum, and a thick, hairy root. Chewed and applied to the eye from time to time, it removes the disease called “plumbum,” which affects that organ.

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  CHAP. 98.

  THE FIRST KIND OF CAPNOS, KNOWN ALSO AS CHICKEN’S FOOT: ONE REMEDY.

  The first kind of capnos, known also as “chicken’s foot,” is found growing on walls and hedges: it has very thin, straggling branches, with a purple blossom. It is used in a green state, and the juice of it disperses films upon the eyes; hence it is that it is employed as an ingredient in medicinal compositions for the eyes.

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  CHAP. 99.

  THE ARBORESCENT CAPNOS: THREE REMEDIES.

  There is another kind of capnos also, similar both in name and properties, but different in appearance. It is a branchy plant, is extremely delicate, has leaves like those of coriander, is of an ashy colour, and bears a purple flower: it grows in gardens, and amid crops of barley. Employed in the form of an ointment for the eyes, it improves the sight, producing tears in the same way that smoke does, to which, in fact, it owes its name. It has the effect also of preventing the eyelashes, when pulled out, from growing again.

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  CHAP. 100.

  THE ACORON OR AGRION: FOURTEEN REMEDIES.

  The acoron has leaves similar to those of the iris, only narrower, and with a longer stalk; the roots of it are black, and not so veined, but in other respects are similar to those of the iris, have an acrid taste and a not unpleasant smell, and act as a carminative. The best roots are those grown in Pontus, the next best those of Galatia, and the next those of Crete; but it is in Colchis, on the banks of the river Phasis, and in various other watery localities, that they are found in the greatest abundance, When fresh, they have a more powerful odour than when kept for some time: these of Crete are more blanched than the produce of Pontus. They are cut into pieces about a finger in length, and dried in leather bags in the shade.

  There are some authors who give the name of “acoron” to the root of the oxymyrsine; for which reason also some prefer giving that plant the name of “acorion.” It has powerful properties as a calorific and resolvent, and is taken in drink for cataract and films upon the eyes; the juice also is extracted, and taken for injuries inflicted by serpents.

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  CHAP. 101.

  THE COTYLEDON: TWO VARIETIES OF IT: SIXTY-ON, REMEDIES.

  The cotyledon is a small herbaceous plant, with a diminu- tive, tender stem, and an unctuous leaf, with a concave surface like that of the cotyloïd cavity of the thigh. It grows in maritime and rocky localities, is of a green colour, and has a rounded root like an olive: the juice of it is remedial for diseases of the eyes.

  There is another kind also of the same plant, the leaves of which are of a dirty green colour, larger than those of the other, and growing in greater numbers about the root, which is surrounded with them just as the eye is with the socket. These leaves have a remarkably astringent taste, and the stem is of considerable length, but extremely slender. This plant is employed for the same purposes as the iris and aizoüm.

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  CHAP. 102.

  THE GREATER AIZOÜM, ALSO CALLED BUPHTHALMOS, ZOÖPHTHALMOS, STERGETHRON, HYPOGESON, AMBROSION, AME- RIMNON, SEDTUM MAGNUM, OR DIGITELLUS: THIRTY-SIX REMIIE- DIES. TIHE SMALLER AIZOÜM, ALSO CALLED ERITHALES, TRI- THALES, CHRYSOTHALES, ISOETES OR SEDUM: THIRTY-TWO REMEDIES.

  Of the plant known as aizoüm there are two kinds; the larger of which is sown in earthen pots. By some persons it is known as “buphthalmos,” and by others as “zoöpthalmos,” or else as stergethron,” because it forms an ingredient in the composition of philtres. Another name given to it is “hypogeson,” from the circumstance that it generally grows upon the eaves of houses: some persons, again, give it the names of “ambrosion” and “amerimnon.” In Italy it is known as “sedum magnum,” “oculus,” or “digitellus.” The other kind of aizoüm is more diminutive, and is known by some persons as “erithales” and by others as “trithales,” from the circusmstance that it blossoms three times in the year. Other names given to it are “chrysothales” and “isoëtes:” but aizoüm is the colmmon appellation of them both, from their being always green.

  The larger kind exceeds a cubit in height, and is somewhat thicker than the thumb: at the extremity, the leaves are simi- lar to a tongue in shape, and are fleshy, unctuous, full of juice, and about as broad as a person’s thumb. Some are bent downwards towards the ground, while others again stand upright, the outline of them resembling an eye in shape. The smaller kind grows upon walls, old rubbish of houses, and tiled roof,; it is branchy from the root, anti covered with leaves to the extremity. These leaves are narrow, pointed, and juicy: the stem is a palm in height, and the root is never used.

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  CHAP. 103.

  THE ANDRACHLE AGRIA OR ILLECEBRA: THIRTY-TWO REMEDIES.

  A similar plant is that known to the Greeks by the name of “andrachle agria,” and by the people of Italy as the “illece- bra.” Its leaves, though small, are larger than those of the last-named plant, but growing on a shorter stem. It grows in craggy localities, and is gathered for use as food. All these plants have the same properties, being cooling and astringent. The leaves, applied topically, or the juice, in form of a liniment, are curative of defluxions of the eyes: this juice too acts as a detergent upon ulcers of the eyes, makes new flesh, and causes them to cicatrize; it cleanses the eyelids also of viscous matter. Applied to the temples, both the leaves and the juice of these plants are remedial for head-ache; they neutralize the venom also of the phalangium; and the greater aizoüm, in particular, is an antidote to aconite. It is asserted, too, that those who carry this last plant about them will never be stung by the scorpion.

  These plants are curative of pains in the ears; wh
ich is the case also with juice of henbane, applied in moderate quantities, of achillea, of the smaller centaury and plantago, of peucedanum in combination with rose-oil and opium, and of acoron mixed with rose-leaves. In all these cases, the liquid is made warm, and introduced into the ear with the aid of a syringe. The cotyledon is good, too, for suppurations in the ears, mixed with deer’s marrow made hot. The juice of pounded root of ebulum is strained through a linen cloth, and then left to thicken in the sun: when wanted for use, it is moistened with oil of roses, and made hot, being employed for the cure of imposthumes of the parotid glands. Vervain and plantago are likewise used for the cure of the same malady, as also sideritis, mixed with stale axle-grease.

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  CHAP. 104.

  A REMEDY FOR DISEASES OF THE NOSTRILS.

  Aristolochia, mixed with cyperus, is curative of polypus of the nose.

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  CHAP. 105.

  REMEDIES FOR DISEASES OF THE TEETH.

  The following are remedies for diseases of the teeth: root of panaces, chewed, that of the chironion in particular, and juice of panaces, used as a collutory; root, too, of henbane, chewed with vinegar, and root of polemonia. The root of plantago is chewed for a similar purpose, or the teeth are rinsed with a decoction of the juice mixed with vinegar. The leaves, too, are said to be useful for the gums, when swollen with sanious blood, or if there are discharges of blood there-from. The seed, too, of plantago is a cure for abscesses in the gums, and for gum-boils. Aristolochia has a strengthening effect upon the gums and teeth; and the same with vervain, either chewed with the root of that plant, or boiled in wine and vinegar, the decoction being employed as a gargle. The same is the case, also, with root of cinquefoil, boiled down to one third, in wine or vinegar; before it is boiled, however, the root should be washed in sea or salt water: the decoction, too, must be kept a considerable time in the mouth. Some persons prefer cleaning the teeth with ashes of cinquefoil.