The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 6 (of 6)

Chapter 370: CHAP. 68.—TRICHRUS. THELYRRHIZOS. THELYCARDIOS OR MULC. THRACIA; THREE VARIETIES OF IT. TEPHRITIS. TECOLITHOS.

By the Elder Pliny

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About This Book

An encyclopedic survey that first catalogs marine animals, algae, and shellfish, describing habitats, curious behaviors, reported antipathies, and numerous folk remedies and practical uses attributed to specific species, organized by ailments and applications. The later portion treats metals and their ores—including gold, silver, mercury, copper, and brass—describing modes of occurrence, extraction, alloying, testing, gilding, and decorative and monetary uses, alongside technical observations and medicinal remedies derived from metallic substances, with systematic lists and practical instructions interwoven throughout.

CHAP. 68.—TRICHRUS. THELYRRHIZOS. THELYCARDIOS OR MULC. THRACIA; THREE VARIETIES OF IT. TEPHRITIS. TECOLITHOS.

Trichrus 3414 comes from Africa: it is of a black colour, but yields three different liquids, black at the lower part, blood-red in the middle, and of an ochre colour at the top. Thelyrrhizos 3415 is of an ashy or russet colour, but white at the lower part. Thelycardios 3416 is like a heart in colour, and is held in high esteem by the people of Persia, in which country it is found: the name given to it by them is “mulc.” Of thracia 3417 there are three varieties; a green stone, one of a more pallid colour, and a third with spots like drops of blood. Tephritis 3418 is crescent-shaped, with horns like those of the new moon, but it is of an ashy colour. Tecolithos 3419 has all the appearance of an olive stone: it is held in no estimation as a gem, but a solution of it will break and expel urinary calculi.