The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Natural History of Pliny, Volume IV., by Pliny the Elder.

1727 In B. xvi. c. 66. In B. xxxii. c. 52, we shall find Pliny speaking of this substance under the name of “Calamochnus.” Dioscorides, B. v. c. 137, speaks of adarca as growing in Cappadocia, and as being a salt substance which adheres to reeds in time of drought.

1728 This, Fée says, cannot possibly be the fact, whatever adarca may really have been.

1729 The “grass-green” plant.

1730 The “twisted flax” plant.

1731 “Lad’s-love.”

1732 “Love and grace,” apparently.

1733 There are two kinds of prasion mentioned by Dioscorides, and by Pliny at the end of the present Chapter, one of which Fée is inclined to identify with the Ballota nigra of Linnæus, the fetid ballota; and the other with the Marrubium vulgare of Linnæus, the white horehound. Bochart conjectures that the word “marrubium” had a Punic origin, but Linnæus thinks that it comes from “Maria urbs,” the “City of the Marshes,” situate on Lake Fucinus, in Italy.

1734 Though much used in ancient times, horehound is but little employed in medicine at the present day: though its medicinal value, Fée thinks, is very considerable. Candied horehound is employed to some extent in this country, as a pectoral.

1735 See B. xviii. c. 25.

1736 Its medicinal properties, as recognized in modern times, are in most respects dissimilar to those mentioned by Pliny.

1738 “Pterygia.” “Pterygium” is also a peculiar disease of the eye.

1739 “Inter pauca.” He has mentioned, however, a vast number of so-called antidotes or remedies. It is just possible that he may mean, “There are few antidotes like it for efficacy.”

1740 “A serpendo:” the Thymus serpyllum of Linnæus.

1741 The Thymus zygis of Linnæus: the Serpyllum folio thymi of C. Bauhin. Dioscorides says that it is the cultivated thyme that is a creeping plant.

1742 See Lucan’s Pharsalia, B. ix. l. 712, et seq.

1743 The Sisymbrion menta of Gerard; the Menta hirsuta of Decandolle, prickly mint. Sprengel, however, takes it to be the Menta silvestris of modern Botany.

1744 The Sisymbrion nasturtium of Linnæus.

1745 Apparently the Sisymbrium just mentioned, and the Nasturtium.

1746 Ovid, Fasti, B. iv. l. 869, speaks of Sisymbrium as being esteemed by the Roman ladies for its agreeable smell.

1747 See B. xix. c. 1. The rich mucilage of linseed makes it extremely valuable, in a medicinal point of view, for poultices. This mucilage is found in the perisperm more particularly; the kernel containing a fixed oil, which is extremely valuable for numerous purposes. The account given by Pliny and the other ancient writers of the medicinal uses of linseed, is, in general, correct.

1748 “Inspersum,” sprinkled with boiling water; like oatmeal for porridge, probably.

1749 It would be of no use whatever for such a purpose, Fée says.

1750 “Emendat.” By bringing them off, probably.

1751 It would be of no utility for hernia, Fée says, or for the cure of gangrenous sores.

1752 The Blitum capitatum of Linnæus.

1753 Hence, too, the Latin word “bliteus,” meaning “insipid,” “senseless,” or “worthless.”

1754 This is not the case, it being as innocuous as it is insipid. Applied topically, the leaves are emollient.

1755 There is no foundation, Fée says, for this opinion.

1756 The Æthusa meum of Linnæus; our Spignel, or Baldmoney, the Athamanta Matthioli of Wulf. By some authorities it is called Feniculum Alpinum perenne. It is possessed of exciting properties, and is no longer used in medicine.

1757 See B. iv. c. 8.

1758 See B. viii. c. 41. This plant is the Anethum feniculum of Linnæus. The seed and roots are still used in medicine, being sudorific, diuretic, and aperitive.

1759 This resinous juice of fennel is no longer employed, or indeed known, Fée says, to the curious.

1760 “Horse marathrum:” the Cachrys Libanotis of Linnæus, probably.

1761 The Seseli tortuosum of Linnæus, probably.

1762 It is sometimes used at the present day for condiments, as a substitute for anise. Pliny’s account of its medicinal virtues, Fée says, is replete with errors.

1763 “Oxyporis:” perhaps “salad-dressings.”

1764 See B. xviii. c. 13.

1765 Their properties, Fée says, are very similar.

1767 “Rhizotomumena.”

1768 Theriaca, l. 596. et seq.

1769 The wild hemp of Pliny is the Althæa cannabina of Linnæus: the hemp marsh-mallow.

1770 The cultivated hemp is the Cannabis sativa of Linnæus.

1771 He is speaking of the hemp marsh-mallow here, and not the real hemp; though at the same time he mingles with his statement several facts which are stated by Dioscorides with reference to the genuine hemp. See B. xix. c. 56.

1772 This is evidently stated in reference to the hemp-mallow.

1773 For an account of the Ferula, see B. xiii. c. 42.

1774 An accidental circumstance, Fée says, and no distinctive mark of sex or species.

1775 Fée thinks that Pliny’s meaning is, that it is eaten as a confection, similar to those of angelica and parsley stalks at the present day. That, however, would hardly appear to be the sense of the passage. In B. xix. c. 56, he speaks of it being dried and used as a seasoning.

1776 Fennel-giant is considered to be a good stomachic.

1777 This, Fée thinks, is probably the fact.

1778 The pith, in reality, of the Umbelliferæ, is insipid and inert.

1779 In B. xix. c. 43.

1780 This, Fée considers to be the Cinara carduncellus of Linnæus, artichoke thistle, or Cardonette of Provence.

1781 The Cinara scolymus of Linnæus probably, our artichoke, which the ancients do not appear to have eaten. Both the thistle and the artichoke are now no longer employed in medicine.

1782 Galen gives these lines, sixteen in number, in his work De Antidot. B. ii. c. 14; the proportions, however, differ from those given by Pliny.

1783 Half a denarius; the weight being so called from the coin which was stamped with the image of the Goddess of Victory. See B. xxxiii. c. 13.

1784 Antiochus II., the father of Antiochus Epiphanes.

1785 Or “antidote.” In this term has originated our word “treacle,” in the Elizabethan age spelt “triacle.” The medicinal virtues of this composition were believed in, Fée remarks, so recently as the latter half of the last century. The most celebrated, however, of all the “theriacæ” of the ancients, was the “Theriaca Andromachi,” invented by Andromachus, the physician of the Emperor Nero, and very similar to that composed by Mithridates, king of Pontus, and by means of which he was rendered proof, it is said, against all poisons. See a very learned and interesting account of the Theriacæ of the ancients, by Dr. Greenhill, in Smith’s Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. His articles “Pharmaceutica,” and “Therapeutica,” will also be found well worth attention by the reader of Pliny.

1786 See end of B. iii.

1787 See end of B. ii.

1788 See end of B. xiv.

1789 He is also mentioned in B. xxv. c. 2, as having commenced a treatise on Medicinal Plants, which he did not live to complete. It is not improbable that he is the same Valgius that is mentioned in high terms by Horace, B. i. Sat. 10.

1790 See end of B. iii.

1791 See end of B. xii.

1792 Supposed by some to be the same with the Bassus Tullius mentioned by ancient writers as the friend of Niger, possibly the Sextius Niger here mentioned.

1793 See end of B. vii.

1794 He lived at Rome, in the first century of the Christian era, and possessed a botanical garden, probably the earliest mentioned. He lived more than a hundred years, in perfect health both of body and mind. See B. xxv. c. 5.

1795 See end of B. ii.

1796 See end of B. iii.

1797 A mystic personage of the early Grecian Mythology, under whose name many spurious works were circulated. Pliny says. B. xxv. c. 2, that he was the first who wrote with any degree of attention on the subject of Plants.

1798 See end of B. xix.

1799 See end of B. ii.

1800 See end of B. viii.

1801 Probably Chrysippus of Cnidos, a pupil of Eudoxus and Philistion, father of Chrysippus, the physician to Ptolemy Soter, and tutor to Erasistratus. Others, again, think that the work “on the Cabbage,” mentioned by Pliny in c. 33, was written by another Chrysippus, a pupil of Erasistratus, in the third century B.C.

1802 A native of Carystus, in Eubœa, who lived in the fourth century B.C. He belonged to the medical sect of the Dogmatici, and wrote several medical works, of which the titles only and a few fragments remain.

1803 Of this writer nothing whatever is known.

1804 For Heraclides of Heraclea, see end of B. xii.; for Heraclides of Pontus, see end of B. iv.; and for Heraclides of Tarentum, see end of B. xii. They were all physicians.

1805 See end of B. xv.

1806 See end of B. xii.

1807 It was probably this personage, or the one next mentioned, who wrote to Ptolemy, one of the kings of Egypt, giving him directions as to what wines he should drink. See B. xiv. c. 9. A person of this name wrote a work on Ointments and Chaplets, quoted by Athenæus, and another on Venomous Animals, quoted by the same author. This last is probably the work referred to by Pliny, B. xxi. cc. 15, 29, &c. It has been suggested also, that the proper reading here is “Apollonius” of Citium, a pupil of Zopyrus, a physician of Alexandria.

1808 See the preceding Note.

1809 A celebrated physician, a native of the island of Cos. He belonged to the medical sect of the Dogmatici, and flourished probably in the fourth century B.C. He was more particularly celebrated for his comparatively accurate knowledge of anatomy. The titles only and a few fragments of his works survive.

1810 A pupil of Praxagoras. He appears to have written a work on Anatomy, quoted more than once by Galen.

1811 A pupil of Chrysippus of Cnidos, and who lived probably in the fourth and third centuries B.C. Galen speaks of him as being held in great repute among the Greeks.

1812 He flourished in the fourth century B.C., and belonged to the medical sect of the Dogmatici. He wrote some medical works, of which nothing but a few fragments remain.

1813 He lived probably about the beginning of the third century B.C., as he was the tutor of Antigenes and Mnemon. He seems to have been famous for his medicinal prescriptions of wine, and the quantities of cold water which he gave to his patients.

1814 Born either in Sicily or at Locri Epizephyrii, in Italy. He is supposed to have lived in the fourth century B.C. By some persons he was thought to have been one of the founders of the sect of the Empirici. He wrote works on Materia Medica and Cookery, and is several times quoted by Pliny and Galen.

1815 See end of B. vii.

1816 A Greek herbalist, who lived about the beginning of the first century B.C. He is mentioned by Galen as one of the most eminent writers on Materia Medica. Another physician of the same name is supposed to have lived in the time of Hippocrates.

1817 A Greek physician, supposed to have lived in or before the first century B.C. Dioscorides and Saint Epiphanius speak of Petronius and Diodotus, making them different persons; and it is not improbable that the true reading in c. 32 of this Book, is “Petronius et Diodotus.”

1818 See end of B. xii.

1819 See end of B. xi.

1820 See end of B. xii.

1821 It is probable that there were several Greek physicians of this name; but the only one of whom anything certain is known is the physician to Ptolemy Philopater, king of Egypt, in whose tent he was killed by Theodotus, the Ætolian, B.C. 217. He was probably the first writer on hydrophobia. Eratosthenes is said to have accused him of plagiarism.

1822 See end of B. xii.

1823 It is doubtful if the person of this name to whom Pliny attributes a work on the Cabbage, in cc. 34 and 36 of this Book, was the same individual as Epicharmus of Cos, the Comic poet, born B.C. 540. It has been suggested that the botanical writer was a different personage, the brother of the Comic poet Demologus.

1824 Possibly the same person as the Damon mentioned at the end of B. vii. He is mentioned in c. 40 of this Book, and in B. xxiv. c. 120, and wrote a work on the Onion.

1825 See end of B. vi.

1826 Beyond the mention made of him in c. 73 of this Book, nothing whatever is known relative to this writer.

1827 Beyond the mention made of him in c. 73, nothing is known of him. Some read “Theopolemus.”

1828 Probably Metrodorus of Chïos, a philosopher, who flourished about B.C. 330, and professed the doctrine of the Sceptics. Cicero, Acad. ii. 23, § 73, gives a translation of the first sentence of his work “On Nature.”

1829 A physician of Smyrna. He is called Solon the Dietetic, by Galen; but nothing further seems to be known of his history.

1830 See end of B. xii.

1831 A Theban authoress, who wrote on Medicine; mentioned also by Plinius Valerianus, the physician, and Pollux.

1832 A Greek physician, a native of Cos, the reputed founder of the sect of the Empirici. He probably lived in the third century B.C. From Athenæus we learn that he wrote a work on Botany. A parallel has been drawn between Philinus and the late Dr. Hahnemann, by F. F. Brisken, Berlin, 1834.

1833 See end of B. xix.

1834 The Scholiast on Nicander mentions a treatise on Botany written by a person of this name: and a work of his on Medicine is mentioned by Labbe as existing in manuscript in the Library at Florence.

1835 A Greek physician of this name belonging to the sect of the Empirici, lived probably in the third or second century B.C. Galen mentions him as one of the earliest commentators on the works of Hippocrates. It is uncertain, however, whether he is the person so often quoted by Pliny.

1836 A physician of Aphrodisias, in Cilicia, who lived in the reign of Tiberius. He wrote some pharmaceutical works, and is censured by Galen for his disgusting remedies, such as human brains, flesh, urine, liver, excrements, &c. There is a short essay by him still in existence, on the Aliments derived from the Aquatic Animals.

1837 See B. xxii. c. 1.

1838 “Sive privatis generum funiculis in orbem, in obliquum, in ambitum; quædam coronæ per coronas currunt.” As we know but little of the forms of the garlands and chaplets of the ancients, the exact translation of this passage is very doubtful.

1839 According to Boettiger, the word “struppus” means a string arranged as a fillet or diadem.

1840 Fée makes the word “vocabulum” apply to “corona,” and not to “struppus;” but the passage will hardly admit of that rendering.

1841 “To bind” or “join together.”

1842 A “connected line,” from the verb “sero.”

1843 By “quod,” Hardouin takes Pliny to mean, the use of the word σπαρτὸν, among the Greeks, corresponding with the Latin word “sertum.”

1844 These chaplets, we learn from Festus, were called “pancarpiæ.” The olive, oak, laurel, and myrtle, were the trees first used for chaplets.

1845 See B. xxxv. c. 40.

1846 The “Chaplet-weaver.” See B. xxxv. c. 40.

1848 From Athenæus, B. xv. c. 2, et seq., we learn that the Egyptian chaplets were made of ivy, narcissus, pomegranate blossoms, &c.

1849 “Corolla,” being the diminutive of “corona.”

1851 The “Rich.”

1852 Ribbons or streamers.

1854 Consul, A.U.C. 570.

1855 Or “engrave,” “cælare.” He is probably speaking here of golden lemnisci.

1856 “Philyræ.” This was properly the inner bark of the linden-tree; but it is not improbable that thin plates of metal were also so called, from the resemblance. The passage, however, admits of various modes of explanation.