1593 Until recently, the bark was employed in the Materia Medica, as a diuretic: it is now no longer used.
1595 In B. xix. c. 50, where he states that Crateuas has given to the wild Ligusticum the name of Cunila bubula, or “ox cunila.”
1597 See B. viii. cc. 41 and 44.
1598 Universal remedy, or “all-heal.”
1599 Or “Poultry cunila:” the Origanum Heracleoticum of Linnæus.
1600 See B. xxv. c. 12.
1602 Fée is of opinion that Pliny has here confounded “cunila” with “conyza,” and that he means the κόνυζα μικρά of Dioscorides, B. iii. c. 136, the κόνυζα θῆλυς of Theophrastus, Hist. Plant. B. vi. c. 2, supposed to be the Inula pulicaria of Linnæus. See B. xxi. c. 32.
1604 Dioscorides, B. iii. c. 136, says the same of the κόνυζα μικρά, or “small conyza.”
1606 “Ictus,” possibly “stings.”
1607 See the preceding Chapter: also B. xix. c. 62, and B. xxi. c. 32.
1609 For some account of Castor, the botanist, see the end of this Book.
1611 So called, Nicander says, from being sought with avidity by the ass, ὄνος. It is the Origanum onites of Linnæus.
1612 The Prasion, or “green plant,” mentioned by Hippocrates and Theophrastus, is not identical, Fée says, with the Origanum onitis, it being the Marrubium Creticum, or peregrinum of modern botanists. To add to the confusion of these names, we find Pliny stating, in c. 69, that the name of “prasion” was given also by the Greeks to his second species of Heraclium, and that of “onitis” to the Heraclium Heracleoticum.
1613 Or “Goat’s origanum:” the Thymus tragoriganum of Linnæus. Dioscorides mentions two kinds of tragoriganum, one of which has been supposed by Clusius to be the Thymus mastichina of Linnæus, and the other the Stachys glutinosa of Linnæus; Zanoni being the first author who promulgated this opinion; from which Fée, however, dissents.
1614 Or Heracleotic origanum: see c. 62 of this Book. Pliny here confounds several distinct plants, and, as Fée observes, the whole account is in hopeless confusion.
1615 Probably the Origanum Heracleoticum of Linnæus, mentioned in c. 62.
1617 See B. xiii. c. 2, and B. xv. c. 7.
1619 Fée says that a strong infusion of pepperwort has been used in France for the itch, with successful results.
1620 Sulphate of lime, which, as Fée remarks, though insoluble, does not act as a poison, but causes a derangement of the digestive functions. The wines of the Romans were extensively treated with this substance, and we have seen in B. xviii. that it was used as an ingredient in their bread.
1621 Dittander, or pepperwort: the Lepidium latifolium of Linnæus.
1622 Or fennel-flower: the Nigella sativa of Linnæus. Fée suggests that its name, “gith,” is from the ancient Egyptian.
1623 “Black flower.”
1624 “Black seed.”
1625 It is no longer used in medicine, but it is esteemed as a seasoning in the East. All that Pliny states as to its medicinal properties, Fée considers to be erroneous. The action of the seed is irritating, and reduced to powder, it causes sneezing.
1626 See B. xxv. c. 17.
1628 The Pimpinella anisum of Linnæus.
1629 It is still used in some countries as a seasoning with which bread and pastry are powdered.
1630 See B. xiv. c. 28.
1632 This and the next statement are utterly fabulous.
1633 “Unconquerable,” from the Greek ἀ, “not,” and νικάω, “to conquer.” Fée thinks that the word is a diminutive of “anisum,” which, according to some persons, is a derivative from “anysun,” the Arabic name of the plant. Dioscorides gives the name “anicetum” to dill, and not to anise.
1634 A mere fable, as Fée remarks.
1635 A fiction, without any foundation in truth.
1636 See B. viii. c. 47, and B. xxxii. cc. 13, 23, 24, and 28.
1637 Fée evidently mistakes the meaning of this passage, and censures Pliny for speaking of anise as an emetic. On the contrary, he here prescribes it to counteract vomiting, and he has previously stated, in this Chapter, that it arrests vomiting.
1638 The Anethum graveolens of Linnæus: originally a native of the hot climates. Its properties are very similar to those of anise.
1639 Or Sagapenum. This is a fetid gum-resin, imported from Persia and Alexandria, and supposed, though without sufficient proof, Fée says, to be the produce of the Ferula Persica. It is occasionally used in medicine as a stimulating expectorant. In odour it somewhat resembles assafœtida, only it is much weaker. Galen speaks of it as the produce of a Ferula. It acts also as a purgative and a vermifuge.
1640 See B. xii. c. 56, and B. xix. c. 52. Some writers have supposed, but apparently without any sufficient authority, that this is the Ferula communis of Linnæus. Fée is of opinion that one of the Umbelliferæ is meant.
1641 In B. xix. c. 53.
1642 It is probable, Fée says, that Pliny does not intend here to speak of the calyx as understood by modern botanists, but the corolla of the plant. The calyx disappears immediately after the plant has blossomed; and is never employed by medical men at the present day, who confine themselves to the heads or capsules.
1644 The variety A. nigrum of the Papaver somniferum of Decandolle.
1645 The incisions are made in the capsules, and towards the upper part of the peduncle. The account given by Pliny, Fée remarks, differs but little from that by Kæmpfer, in the early part of last century.
1646 Nine in the morning.
1647 This plan, Fée thinks, would not be attended with advantage.
1648 A name, probably, of Eastern origin, and now universally employed.
1649 “Bilbilis” has been suggested.
1650 Syrop of white poppies was, till recently, known as sirop of diacodium. Opium is now universally regarded as one of the most important ingredients of the Materia Medica.
1651 Poppy-seed, in reality, is not possessed of any soporific qualities whatever. This discovery, however, was only made in the latter part of the last century, by the French chemist, Rosier.
1652 “Collyriis.”
1653 “Lexipyretos,” “pepticas,” and “cœliacas”—Greek appellations.
1654 The type of the cultivated poppy is the Papaver somniferum of Linnæus.
1655 This, Fée says, is a matter of doubt.
1656 From μήκων, a “poppy.” Tournefort has described this kind of opium obtained by decoction; it is held in little esteem.
1657 Fée remarks, that this account of the tests of opium is correct in the extreme.
1658 In B. xix. c. 53. The Papaver rhœas of Linnæus: the field poppy, corn poppy, or corn rose.
1659 Theophrastus says that it has just the taste of wild endive. Fée remarks that the peasants of Treves eat the leaves of this poppy while young.
1660 The Glaucium Corniculatum of Persoon; the horned poppy, or glaucium. This, Fée remarks, is not a poppy in reality, but a species of the genus Chelidonium. The juice is an irritating poison, and the seed is said to act as an emetic.
1661 “Argema.”
1662 “By the sea-shore.”
1663 Not a poppy, but the Euphorbia esula of Linnæus, a spurge. The milky juice found in the stalk and leaves have caused it to be classed among the poppies, as other varieties of Euphorbiaceæ appear to have been, among the wild lettuces.
1664 Theophrastus, Hist. Plant. B. ix. c. 31, compares this plant with the Struthium—(see B. xix. c. 18). Pliny, or his scribes, have supposed him to be speaking of the στρούθος, or “sparrow”—hence the present mistake. The Struthium itself has received that name from the resemblance which its flower bears to a bird with the wings expanded.
1665 Hence its name, “aphron.”
1666 See B. xix. c. 4. Pliny has here mistaken a passage of Theophrastus, Hist. Plant. B. ix. c. 31; where he attributes this quality to the Struthium, and not the Heraclium.
1667 See c. 76 of this Book. It is difficult to conjecture how one of the Euphorbiaceæ, a powerful drastic, could enter into the composition of a soothing preparation, such as the diacodion is said to have been.
1668 “Capitibus.” As Fée remarks, the capsules of Euphorbia bear no resemblance whatever to the heads of the poppy. Dioscorides, B. iv. c. 67, similarly confounds these two plants.
1669 See B. xxvi. c. 31.
1670 See B. xxvi. c. 41. Probably the Euphorbia paralias of Linnæus, or Sea euphorbia. Its medicinal properties are similar to those of the Euphorbia esula above mentioned.
1671 The fructiferous heads of the Euphorbiaceæ, thus employed, would, as Fée remarks, be productive of most disastrous results.
1672 The Euphorbia peplis of Linnæus.
1673 See B. xiii. c. 40. By Dioscorides, B. iv. c. 165, all these virtues are attributed exclusively to the cultivated purslain. Indeed, there is no analogy between the properties of the two plants; though neither of them is possessed of the wonderful virtues as antidotes here mentioned, and they would only increase the sufferings of asthmatic patients.
1674 As to this serpent, see Lucan’s Pharsalia, B. ix. l. 722, et seq.
1675 A kind of spreading tumour, which, according to Scribonius Largus, would appear as if about to force the eye out of the socket. Fée remarks, that this malady is no longer known.
1676 See B. xxxv. c. 57.
1677 “Acetariis.”
1678 “Sapa.” Grape-juice, boiled down to one third.
1679 Ἐπιτομὴν ῥιζοτουμένων.
1680 The Coriandrum sativum of Linnæus. At the present day, wild coriander is commonly found in Italy, on uncultivated soils. It may have been naturalized, however, Fée thinks, since the time of Pliny.
1681 Nicander says also, that it is a cure for the stings of serpents and scorpions, but there is no truth in the assertion.
1682 See B. viii. c. 35.
1683 The Atriplex hortensis of Linnæus. Fée thinks that the wild atriplex of Pliny is some kind of Chenopodium, which it is now impossible to identify. Orage is more of an aliment than a medicament. Applied externally, it is soothing and emollient.
1684 De Morb. Mulier. B. ii. c. 57.
1685 It would not have this effect. The statements here given relative to the virtues of orage are, in general, considered to be correct.
1687 The Malva silvestris of Linnæus, or wild mallow.
1688 The Malva rotundifolia of Linnæus, or round-leaved mallow.
1689 From μαλάσσω, to “soften,” or “relax.”
1690 These wild varieties are the same in every respect as the cultivated kinds; their essential characteristics not being changed by cultivation. See further as to the Althæa or marsh mallow, at the latter end of this Chapter.
1691 The meaning of this name appears to be unknown. “Pistolochia” is a not uncommon reading.
1692 Mallows were commonly used as a vegetable by the ancients; and are so in China and the south of France, at the present day. The mucilaginous principle which they contain renders them emollient and pectoral; they are also slightly laxative.
1693 The only benefit resulting from the application of mallows would be the reduction of the inflammation; the plant having no efficacy whatever in neutralizing the venom.
1694 Sub-carbonate of lead. The mallow would have little or no effect in such a case.
1695 See B. ix. c. 72, and B. xxxii. c. 3.
1696 The same was said in the middle ages, of the virtues of sage, and in more recent times of the Panax quinquefolium, the Ginseng of the Chinese.
1697 Q. Serenus Sammonicus speaks of the accumulation of dandriff in the hair to such a degree as to form a noxious malady. He also mentions the present remedy for it.
1698 Some commentators have supposed this to be the Alcea rosa of Linnæus; but Fée considers this opinion to be quite unfounded.
1699 It would be of no use whatever in such cases, Fée says.
1700 Without any good results, Fée says.
1701 “Permeatus suaves facit.” We can only make a vague guess at the meaning; as the passage is, most probably, corrupt.
1702 The Althæa officinalis of Linnæus, or marsh-mallow. The medicinal properties are similar to those of the other varieties of the mallow.
1703 It is the fact, that water, in which mallows are steeped, owing to the mucilage of the root, assumes the appearance of milk.
1704 Fée says that this milky appearance of the water does not depend on the freshness of the root; as it is only the aqueous particles that are dried up, the mucilage preserving its chemical properties in their original integrity.
1705 The Rumex acetosella of Linnæus, or small sorrel.
1707 “Horse Lapathum.”
1708 Or “Lapathum with pointed leaves;” the Rumex acutus of Linnæus.
1709 Or “water lapathum;” the Rumex aquaticus of Linnæus.
1710 Or “horse lapathum;” the Rumex patientia of Linnæus: or dock, as Fée thinks: though, according to Sprengel, the cultivated lapathum was identical with that plant.
1711 The medicinal properties of the lapathum vary according to the parts of the plant employed. The leaves and stalks of the acid kinds of Rumex are refreshing, and slightly diuretic and laxative. The action of those which are not acid is sudorific, antiherpetic, and depurative.
1712 Fée says that it would be of no benefit whatever for tooth-ache.
1713 It is not possessed of any stomachic properties, Fée remarks.
1714 It would be of no utility in such a case, Fée says.
1715 Supposed by Fée to be the same as the wild lapathum of the last Chapter, the Rumex acetosella of Linnæus; small sorrel.
1716 Fée remarks that no part of lapathum is naturally astringent.
1717 Or “ox lapathum.” Fée considers this to be identical with the “hippolapathon” of the last Chapter.
1718 In B. xix. c. 54. Fée identifies these three varieties of mustard as follows; the slender-stemmed mustard of Pliny he identifies with the Sinapis alba of Linnæus, mustard with white seeds. The mustard mentioned as having the leaves of rape he considers to be the same as the Sinapis nigra of Linnæus, mustard with black seed; and that with the leaf of the rocket he identifies with the Sinapis erucoïdes of Linnæus, the Eruca silvestris of Gessner, or rocket-leaved mustard.
1719 In reality, mustard is injurious for all affections of the chest and throat.
1720 “Seseli.”
1721 A sinapism applied to the head, Fée remarks, in cases of cerebral congestion, would very soon cause death.
1722 Mustard poultices are used extensively at the present day for blisters on the chest.
1723 “Rubrica.”
1724 “Scabras genas.”