Delphi Complete Works of Pliny the Elder

by Pliny the Elder

Lysimachia is curative of recent wounds, and plantago of all kinds of ulcerations, those on females, infants, and aged persons more particularly. This plant, when softened by the action of fire, is better still: in combination with cerate it acts as a detergent upon ulcers with indurated edges, and arrests the progress of corrosive sores: when applied bruised, it should be covered with its own leaves. Chelidonia also acts as a desiccative upon suppurations, abscesses, and fistulous ulcers; indeed, it is so remarkably useful for the cure of wounds, as to be employed as a substitute for spodium even. In cases where the cure is almost hopeless, it is applied with axle- grease. Dittany, taken internally, causes arrows to fall from the flesh; used as a liniment, it has the effect of extracting other kinds of pointed weapons: the leaves are taken in the proportion of one obolus to one cyathus of water. Nearly equal in its efficacy is pseudo-dictamnon: they are both of them useful, also, for dispersing suppurations.

  Aristolochia cauterizes putrid sores, and, applied with honey, acts as a detergent upon sordid ulcers. At the same time also, it removes maggots, and extracts hard cores, and all foreign bodies adhering to the flesh, arrows more particularly, and, applied with resin, splintered bones. Used by itself, it fills the cavities made by ulcers with new flesh, and, employed with iris, in vinegar, it closes recent wounds. Vervain, or cinquefoil with salt and honey, is remedial for ulcers of long standing. Roots of persolata are applied to recent wounds inflicted with iron, but for old wounds, it is the leaves that are employed: in both cases, in combination with axle-grease, the sore being then covered with the leaves of the plant. Damasonium is used for wounds the same way as for scrofula, and leaves of verbascum are employed with vinegar or wine.

  Vervain is useful for all kinds of callosities or putrid sores; root of nymphæa heraclia is curative of running ulcers; and the same is the case with root of cyclaminos, either used by itself, or in combination with vinegar or honey. This last root is useful also for the cure of steatomatous tumours, and hyssop for that of running ulcers; an effect equally produced by peucedanum, a plant which exercises so powerful an influence upon fresh wounds, as to cause exfoliation even of the bones. The two varieties of anagallis are possessed of similar properties, and act as a check upon the corrosive sores known as “nomæ” and upon defluxions; they are useful also in cases of recent wounds, those of aged people in particular. Fresh leaves of mandragora, applied with cerate, are curative of apostemes and sordid ulcers: the root too is used, with honey or oil, for wounds.

  Hemlock, incorporated with flour of winter wheat by the agency of wine — as also the plant Aizoüm — is curative of herpetic eruptions, and corrosive or putrid sores. Erigeron is employed for ulcers which breed maggots. Root of astra- galus is used for the cure of recent wounds or of ulcers of long standing; and upon these last either kind of hypocisthis acts as a detergent. Seed of leontopodium, bruised in water and applied with polenta, extracts pointed weapons from the flesh: a result equally produced by using seed of pycnocomon. The tithymalos characias supplies its juice for the cure of gangrenes, phagedænic sores, and putrid ulcers; or else a decoction is made of the branches with polenta and oil. Roots of orchis have a similar effect; in addition to which, ‘applied, either dry or fresh gathered, with honey and vinegar, they are curative of the ulcer known as “cacoëthes.” Onothera also, used by itself; is curative of ulcers when rapidly gaining head.

  The people of Scythia employ scythice for the treatment of wounds. For carcinoma, argemonia, applied with honey, is extremely efficacious. For sores that have prematurely closed, root of asphodel is boiled, in manner already stated. and then beaten up with polenta, and applied. For all kinds of wounds apollinaris is very useful. Root of astragalus, reduced to powder, is good for running ulcers; the same, too, with callithrix, boiled in water. For blisters, more particularly when caused by the shoes, vervain is used, as also pounded lysimachia, or nymphæa dried and powdered; but when they have assumed the form of inveterate ulcers, polythrix will be found more serviceable.

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  CHAP. 88.

  POLYCNEMON: ONE REMEDY.

  Polycnemon is a plant which resembles cunila bubula; it has a seed like that of pennyroyal, a ligneous stem with numerous articulations, and odoriferous umbels, with a pleasant though pungent smell. This plant is chewed and applied to wounds inflicted with iron, the application being removed at the end of four days. Symphyton causes sores to cicatrize with the greatest rapidity; the same, too, with sideritis, which is applied in combination with honey. The seed and leaves of verbascum, boiled in wine and pounded, are used for the extraction of all foreign substances adhering to the body; and a similar use is made of leaves of mandragora mixed with polenta, and roots of cyclaminos with honey. Leaves of trixago, bruised in oil, are used for ulcers of a serpiginous nature more particularly, as also sea-weed bruised with honey. Betony, with the addition of salt, is employed for the cure of carcinomatous sores and inveterate blisters on the neck.

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  CHAP. 89.

  REMEDIES FOR WARTS. AND APPLICATIONS FOR THE REMOVAL OF SCARS.

  Argemonia with vinegar, or root of batrachion, removes warts; this last having the effect also of bringing off malformed nails. The juice or the leaves, applied topically, of either kind of linozostis, remove warts. All the varieties of tithy- malos are efficacious for the removal of every kind of wart, as also of hangnails and wens. Ladanum imparts a fresh colour and seemly appearance to scars.

  (15.) The traveller who carries artemisia attached to his person, or elelisphacus, will never be sensible of lassitude, it is said.

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  CHAP. 90.

  REMEDIES FOR FEMALE DISEASES.

  One great remedy for all female diseases in common, is the black seed of the herbaceous plant pæonia, taken in hydro- mel: the root also is an effectual emmenagogue. Seed of panaces, mixed with wormwood, acts as an emmenagogue and as a sudorific: the same, too, with scordotis, taken internally or applied topically. Betony, in doses of one drachma to three cyathi of wine, is taken for various affections of the uterus, as also directly after child-birth. Excessive menstruation is arrested by a pessary of achillea, or else a sitting-bath composed of a decoction of that plant. Seed of henbane in wine is used as a liniment for diseases of the mamillæ, and the root is employed in the form of a plaster for uterine affections; chelidonia, too, is applied to the mamillæ.

  Roots of panaces, applied as a pessary, bring away the after-birth and the dead fœtus, and the plant itself, taken in wine, or used as a pessary with honey, acts as a detergent upon the uterus. Polemonia, taken in wine, brings away the after-birth; used as a fumigation, it is good for suffocations of the uterus. Juice of the smaller centaury, taken in drink, or employed as a fomentation, acts as an emmenagogue. The root also of the larger centaury, similarly used, is good for pains in the uterus; scraped and used as a pessary, it expels the dead fœtus. For pains of the uterus, plantago is applied as a pessary, in wool, and for hysterical suffocations, it is taken in drink. But it is dittany that is of the greatest efficacy in cases of this description; it acts as an emmenagogue, and is an expellent of the fœtus when dead or lying transversely in the uterus. In these cases the leaves of it are taken, in doses of one obolus, in water: indeed so active is it in its effects that ordinarily it is forbidden to be introduced into the chamber of a woman lying-in. Not only is it thus efficacious when taken in drink, but even when applied topically or used as a fumiga- tion. Pseudodictamnum possesses pretty nearly the same virtues, but it acts as an emmenagogue also, boiled in doses of one denarius in unmixed wine. Aristolochia, however, is employed for a greater number of purposes: in combination with myrrh and pepper, either taken in drink or used as a pessary, it acts as a powerful emmenagogue, and brings away the dead fœtus and the after-birth. This plant, the smaller kind in particular, used either as a fomentation, fumigation, or pessary, acts as a preventive of procidence of the uterus.

  Hysterica
l suffocations and irregularities of the catamenia are treated with agaric, taken in doses of three oboli, in one cyathus of old wine: vervain is used also in similar cases, as a pessary, with fresh hog’s lard; or else antirrhinum, with rose oil and honey. Root of Thessalian nymphæa, used as a pessary, is curative of pains in the uterus; taken in red wine, it arrests uterine discharges. Root of cyclaminos, on the other hand, taken in drink and employed as a pessary, acts as an emmenagogue: a decoction of it, used as a sitting-bath, cures affections of the bladder. Cissanthemos, taken in drink, brings away the after-birth, and is curative of diseases of the. uterus. The upper part of the root of xiphion, taken in doses of one drachma, in vinegar, promotes menstruation. A fumigation of burnt peucedanum has a soothing effect in cases of hysterical suffocation. Psyllion, taken in the proportion of one drachma to three cyathi of hydromel, is particularly good for promoting the lochial discharge. Seed of mandragora, taken in drink, acts as a detergent upon the uterus; the juice, employed in a pessary, promotes menstruation and expels the dead fetus. The seed of this plant, used with live sulphur, arrests menstruation when in excess; while batrachion, on the other hand, acts as an emmenagogue. This last plant is either used as an article of food, or is taken in drink: in a raw state, as already stated, it has a burning flavour; but when cooked, the taste of it is greatly improved by the addition of salt, oil, and cummin. Daucus, taken in drink, promotes the catamenia, and is an expellent of the after-birth in a very high degree. Ladanum, used as a fumigation, acts as a corrective upon the uterus, and is employed topically for pains and ulcerations of that organ.

  Scammony, taken in drink or used as a pessary, is an expellent of the dead fœtus. Either kind of hypericon, used as a pessary, promotes menstruation: but for this purpose it is crethmos, according to Hippocrates, that is the most efficacious, the seed or root of it being taken in wine. of the outer coat brings away the after-birth. This plant, taken in water, is good for hysterical suffocations; root of geranion also, which is peculiarly useful for the after-birth, and for inflation of the uterus. Hippuris, taken in drink or applied as a pessary, acts as a detergent upon the uterus: polygonos, taken in drink, promotes menstruation; and the sane with root of alcima. Leaves of plantago, and agaric in hydromel, have a similar effect. Artemisia, bruised and applied as a pessary, with oil of iris, figs, or myrrh, is curative of diseases of the uterus; the root, too, of this plant, taken in drink, is so strongly purgative as to expel the dead fœtus even. A decoction of the branches, used as a sitting-bath, promotes menstruation and brings away the after-birth; the same, too, with the leaves, taken in doses of one drachma in drink. The leaves, if applied to the lower regions of the abdomen with barley-meal, will prove equally efficacious.

  Acoron is very useful for internal complaints of females; as also the two varieties of conyza, and crethmos. Either kind of anthyllis, taken in wine, is remarkably good for uterine affections, griping pains in that organ, and retardations of the after-birth. Callithrix, applied as a fomentation, is curative of affections of the vagina: it removes scaly eruptions also of the head, and, beaten up in oil, it stains the hair. Geranion, taken in white wine, or hypocisthis in red, arrests all uterine discharges. Hyssop modifies hysterical suffocations. Root of vervain, taken in water, is a most excellent remedy for all accidents incident to, or consequent upon, delivery. Some persons mix bruised cypress seed with peucedanum in red wine. Seed, too, of psyllion, boiled in water and taken warm, has a soothing effect upon all defluxions of the uterus. Symphyton, bruised in wine, promotes menstruation. Juice of scordotis, in the proportion of one drachma to four cyathi of hydromel, accelerates delivery. Leaves of dittany are given for the same purpose, in water, with remarkable success. It is a well-known fact, too, that these leaves, to the extent of a single obolus even, will bring away the fœtus instantaneously, even when dead, without the slightest inconvenience to the patient. Pseudodictamnum is productive of a somewhat similar effect, but not in so marked a degree: cyclaminos, too, attached as an amulet; cissanthemos, taken in drink; and powdered betony, in hydromel.

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  CHAP. 91.

  ARSENOGONON: ONE MEDICINAL PROPERTY. THELY- GONON: ONE MEDICINAL PROPERTY.

  Arsenogonon and thelygonon are plants, both of them, with clusters resembling the blossoms of the olive, but paler, and a white seed like that of the poppy. By taking thelygonon in drink, they say, the conception of female issue is ensured. Arsenogonon differs from it in the seed, which resembles that of the olive, but in no other respect. By taking this last plant in drink, male issue may be ensured — that is, if we choose to believe it. Some persons, however, assert that both plants resemble ocimum, but that the seed of arsenogonon is double, and resembles the testes in appearance.

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  CHAP. 92.

  MASTOS: ONE REMEDY.

  Aizoüm, which we have spoken of under the name of digi- tellus, is the great specific for diseases of the mamillæ. The milk is increased by taking erigeron in raisin wine, or else sonchos boiled with spelt. The plant known as “mastos,” applied topically, removes the hairs from the mamillæ, which make their appearance after child-birth: it has the effect also of dispersing scaly crusts upon the face, and other cutaneous affections. Gentian also, nymphæa heraclia employed in a liniment, and root of cyclaminos, remove all blemishes of the skin. Seeds of cacalia, mixed with melted wax, plump out the skin of the face and make wrinkles disappear. Root of acoron, also, removes all spots upon the skin.

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  CHAP. 93.

  APPLICATIONS FOR THE HAIR. LYSIMACHIA. OPHRYS.

  Lysimachia imparts a blonde tint to the hair, and the hypericon, otherwise called “corisson,” makes it black. The same too, with ophrys, a plant with indentations, which re sembles the cabbage, but has only two leaves. Polemonia, too, boiled in oil, imparts blackness to the hair.

  As for depilatories, I reckon them in the number of cosmetics, fit for women only, though men use them now-a-days. For this purpose archezostis is looked upon as highly efficacious, as also juice of tithymalos, applied with oil every now and then in the sun, or after pulling out the hairs. Hyssop, applied with oil, heals itch-scab in beasts, and side- citis is particularly useful for quinzy in swine.

  But let us now turn to the remaining plants of which we have to speak.

  SUMMARY. — Remedies, narratives, and observations, one thousand and nineteen.

  ROMAN AUTHORS QUOTED. — M. Varro, C. Valgius, Pompeius Lenæus, Sextius Niger who wrote in Greek, Julius Bassus who wrote in Greek, Antonius Castor, Cornelius Celsus.

  FOREIGN AUTHORS QUOTED. — Theophrastus, Democritus, Juba, Orpheus, Pythagoras, Mago, Menander who wrote the “Biochresta,” Nicander, Homer, Hesiod, Musæus, Sophocles, Xanthus, Anaxilaüs.

  MEDICAL AUTHORS QUOTED. — Mnesitheus, Callimachus, Phanias the physician, Timaristus, Simus, Hippocrates, Chrysippus, Diocles, Ophelion, Heraclides, Hicesius, Dionysius, Apollodorus of Citium, Apollodorus of Tarentum, Praxagoras, Plistonicus, Medius, Dieuches, Cleophantus, Philistion, Asclepiades, Creteuas, Petronius Diadotus, Iollas, Erasistratus, Diagoras, Andreas, Mnesides, Epicharmus, Damion, Tlepolemus, Metrodorus, Solo, Lycus, Olympias of Thebes, Philinus, Petrichus, Micton, Glaucias, Xenocrates.

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  BOOK XXVII. A DESCRIPTION OF PLANTS, AND OF THE REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THEM.

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  CHAP. 1. (1.)

  RESEARCHES OF THE ANCIENTS UPON THIS SUBJECT.

  THE further I proceed in this work, the more I am impressed with admiration of the ancients; and the greater the number of plants that remain to be described, the more I am induced to venerate the zeal displayed by the men of former times in their researches, and the kindly spirit manifested by them in transmitting to us the results thereof. Indeed their bounteousness in this respect would almost seem to have surpassed the munificent disposition even of Nature herself, if our knowledge of plants had depended
solely upon man’s spirit of discovery: but as it is, it is evident beyond all doubt that this knowledge has emanated from the gods themselves, or, at all events, has been the result of divine inspiration, even in those cases where man has been instrumental in communicating it to us. In other words, if we must confess the truth — a marvel surpassed by nothing in our daily experience — Nature herself, that common parent of all things, has at once produced them, and has discovered to us their properties.

  Wondrous indeed is it, that a Scythian plant should be brought from the shores of the Palus Mæotis, and the euphorbia from Mount Atlas and the regions beyond the Pillars of Hercules, localities where the operations of Nature have reached their utmost limit! That in another direction, the plant britannica should be conveyed to us from isles of the Ocean situate beyond the confines of the earth! That the æthiopis should reach us from a climate scorched by the luminaries of heaven! And then, in addition to all this, that there should be a perpetual interchange going on between all parts of the earth, of productions so instrumental to the welfare of mankind! Results, all of them, ensured to us by the peace that reigns under the majestic sway of the Roman power, a peace which brings in presence of each other, not individuals only, belonging to lands and nations far separate, but mountains even, and heights towering above the clouds, their plants and their various productions! That this great bounteousness of the gods may know no end, is my prayer, a bounteousness which seems to have granted the Roman sway as a second luminary for the benefit of mankind.

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