Chapter 546

2243Supposed by most commentators to be the Parietaria officinalis of Linnæus; Wall pellitory or parietary. Some, however, have suggested the Polygonum maritimum, or the Polygonum divaricatum of Linnæus. Fée expresses doubts as to its identity, but remarks that the modern Greek name of pellitory is “perdikaki.” See c.104of this Book, and B. xxii. c.20.

2244“Perdix,” the Greek name.

2245Probably the Ornithogalum umbellatum of Linnæus. Sprengel identifies it with the Ornithogalum natans: but that variety is not found in Greece, while the other is.

2246“Puls”

2247Probably the Melilotus cœrulea of Linnæus, Fée says. Desfontaines mentions the Melilotus Cretica or Italica.

2248The Avena fatua or sterilis; the barren oat. See B. xviii. c.44.

2249See B. xxii. c.26.

2250The Gallium aparine of Linnæus. See B. xviii. c.44.

2251The Opuntia. The Cactus Opuntia of Linnæus; the cactus, or Indian fig.

2252Perhaps the Convolvulus sepium of Linnæus; though Fée dissents from that opinion. See B. xxii. c.39.

2253See c.52of this Book.

2254See B. xxii. c.31.

2255From the Greekπικρὸς.

2256In B. xviii. c. 65.

2257“Little sword:” the Gladiolus communis of Linnæus. See the remarks on the hyacinthus of the ancients in the Notes to c.38of this Book.

2258Sprengel says that it is the Thesium linophyllum of modern botany; an opinion at which Fée expresses his surprise. See B. xxii. c.31.

2259The Asphodelus ramosus of Linnæus.

2260“Little sword.”

2261It is no longer employed as an article of food.

2262Od. xi. 539, and xxiv. 13.

2263It is difficult to say to what “illud” refers, if, indeed, it is the correct reading.

2264“Hastula regia.”

2265“Caulis acinosi.”

2266See B. xxii. c.32.

2267“Arrow.” The Sagittaria sagittifolia of Linnæus; our arrow-head, or adder’s tongue.

226815th of May.

2269The Schœnus mariscus of Linnæus.

2270Pliny is guilty of a lapsus memoriæ here, for he has nowhere given any such advice on the subject. Hardouin refers to B. xviii. c. 67, but erroneously, for there he is speaking of hay, not “ulva” or sedge.

2271The “sharp rush.” The Juncus acutus of Linnæus; the pointed bulrush.

2272The “pointed” rush. The Schœnus mucronatus of Linnæus.

2273A variety, Fée says, of the Schœnus nigricans of Linnæus, the black bulrush.

2274The “black head.”

2275The Scirpus holoschœnus of Linnæus, Fée thinks.

2276None of the rushes, Fée remarks, are barren; and when the head is inserted in the ground, it is neither more nor less than a sowing of the seed. Hardouin remarks, however, that by the word “cacumine,” the bulbous root of the rush is meant, and not the point of the stem.

2277“Nassæ.” Baskets with a narrow mouth.

2278It has descended in our time to the more humble rushlight; and even that is fast “going out.”

2279Fée identifies it with the Cyperus longus and Cyperus rotundus of Linnæus, the odoriferous or round souchet.

2280In c. 67 of this Book. The bulb, however, of the gladiolus is inodorous; for which reason Fée is inclined to think that Pliny, with all his care, is describing a cyperus, perhaps the Cyperus esculentus.

2281It would be curious to know who these barbarians were, who thussmokedcypirus as we do tobacco. Fée queries whether they were Germans or Gauls, people of Asia or of Africa.

2282This applies more particularly, Fée thinks, to the Cyperus rotundus of Linnæus.

2283The Cyperus longus of Linnæus, Fée thinks.

2284Sillig finds a difficulty here which does not seem to exist. It is pretty clear that “cæteris” refers to the other varieties of the cypiros, mentioned in the preceding Chapter.

2285It has not been identified.

2286Mentioned also by Dioscorides. It has not been identified.

2287B. xii. c. 48.

2288Dioscorides says that it grows in Babylonia. It is a variety, no doubt, of the Andropogon schœnanthus.

2289“Ungues,” “nails;” in allusion to the white part of the finger-nails.

2290“Cortex.”

2291“Anchusam.”

2292In B. xiv. c. 19.

2293“In calliblepharum.”

2294“Diapasmata.”

2295“Pilulæ.” He alludes to the galls produced by an insect of the Cynips kind, and known as “bedeguar.” They are astringent, but no longer employed in medicine.

2296The efficacy of bears’-grease for promoting the growth of the hair was believed in, we find, so early as Pliny’s time.

2297See c.11of this Book. The bulbs of the lily contain a mucilage, and roasted or boiled they are sometimes employed, Fée says, to bring inflammations to a head. Employed internally, he thinks that they would be of no use whatever, and there is nothing in their composition, he says which would induce one to think that they might be employed to advantage in most of the cases mentioned by Pliny.

2298Or “Poley.” See c.21of this Book.

2299“Mel.”

2300See c.12of this Book.

2301The Narcissus pseudo-narcissus of Linnæus, the meadow narcissus, or daffodil. The epithet “herbaceous,” Fée says, applies, not to the flower, but to the leaves, which are larger and greener than in the other kinds.

2302“Torpor,” or “lethargy.”

2303See c.14of this Book.

2304An ointment made of wax and oil.

2305“Ægilopiis.”

2306“Diapasmata.”

2307This, as Fée remarks, can hardly apply to the Digitalis purpurea of Linnæus, with which he has identified it, the smell of which is disagreeable rather than otherwise.

2308In c. 16 of this Book.

2309The Asarum Europæum of Linnæus; our foalfoot. See B. xii. c. 27.

2310In c. 16 of this Book.

2311In B. xii. c. 26.

2312B. xii. c. 26. Either the Valeriana Italica, Fée says, or the Valeriana Dioscoridis of Sibthorpe. The Valeriana phu and the Valeriana officinalis of Linnæus have been suggested by some commentators.

2313Or “prurigo.”

2314See B. xxxv. cc. 18 and 57.

2315“Collyrium.” Saffron is still the base of certain eye-salves.

2316Formed, most probably, of all the insoluble substances contained in the oil employed in making the “unguentum crocinum.”

2317A small kind of quince. See B. xv. cc. 10 and 14.

2318“Orthopnœa.”

2319The Iris fœtidissima of Linnæus. It grows near Constantinople, and the smell of it is so like that of roast meat, that it is commonly called, Fée says, the “leg of mutton iris.”

2320“Credo.” It does not exactly appear that Pliny puts faith in this superstition, as Fée and Desfontaines seem to think; but he merely hazards a supposition as to what are the intentions of these avaricious herbalists.

2321See c.20of this Book.

2322See c.21of this Book. Fée remarks, that in reality it possesses none of the qualities that are attributed to it.

2323The “protection against poisons.”

2324We have adopted Sillig’s emendation of this passage; the words “aiunt, quod alii” being evidently required by the context.

2325“Cytinus” appears to be a preferable reading here to “cyanus,” the “blue-bell.”

2326See c.24of this Book. Its medicinal properties, Fée says, are next to nothing.

2327See c.26of this Book. If it is the Chrysocoma linosyris, it has no peculiar medicinal properties, Fée says. All these statements are found in Dioscorides.

2328Sec B. xx. c. 45, and c. 41 of this Book. It is a plant of somewhat stimulating properties, and may possibly be useful, Fée thinks, for nervous affections.

2329“Scopis.” He may possibly mean small brooms made of the sprigs of the plant.

2330See c.29of this Book. The melilote is possessed of no peculiar energy, but decoctions of it are sometimes employed as a lotion.

2331Sores “resembling a honey-comb.”

2332See c.30of this Book.

2333In c. 30 of this Book.

2334See c.31of this Book. Thyme yields an essential oil, possessed of stimulating properties. Most of the assertions here made as to its virtues are quite unfounded.

2335See c.33of this Book. The Pancratium maritimum, if that plant is identical with it, is but little used, but has a marked action, Fée says, upon the human frame.

2336In c. 33 of this Book.

2337Od. iv. l. 221. This has been supposed by many commentators to have been opium. The origin of the word isνή, “not,” andπένθος, “grief;” and, as Fée says, it would seem to indicate rather a composition than a plant. Saffron, mandragore, nightshade, and even tea and coffee, have been suggested by the active imaginations of various writers. Fée is of opinion that it is impossible to come to any satisfactory conclusion, but inclines to the belief that either the poppy or a preparation from it, is meant. In confirmation of this opinion, it is a singular fact, that, as Dr. Paris remarks (in his Pharmacologia), the Nepenthes of Homer was obtained from Thebes in Egypt, and that tincture of opium, or laudanum, has received the name of “Thebaic tincture.” Gorræus, in his “Definitiones Medicæ,” thinks that the herb alluded to is the Inula Campania, or Elecampane, which was also said to have derived its name of “Helenium” from Helen. Dr. Greenhill, in Smith’s Dictionary of Antiquities, inclines to the opinion that it was opium. See the article “Pharmaceutica.”

2338See c.34of this Book. Both of the plants mentioned share the medicinal properties of wormwood, being stimulants, tonics, anthelmintics, and febrifuges. It would be dangerous, however, Fée says, to administer them in most of the cases mentioned by Pliny, nor would they be good for strangury, or affections of the chest.

2339“Nervis.” Pliny had no knowledge, probably, of the nervous system; but Fée seems to think that such is his meaning here. See B. xi. c. 88.

2340See B. xi. cc. 24, 28, and 29.

2341See c.34of this Book; also B. xxii. c.26.

2342See c.35of this Book.

2343In c. 38 of this Book.

2344The Anemone coronaria of Linnæus, Fée thinks.

2345Probably the Adonis æstivalis of Linnæus, a ranunculus. These plants are of an acrid, irritating nature, and rank at the present day among the vegetable poisons.

2346The “wind-flower,” from the Greekἄνεμος, “wind.”

2347See B. xxv. c. 26.

2348In B. xix. c. 53.

2349As Fée remarks, it would be very dangerous to use it.

2350“Cuique animalium.”

2351The Œnanthe pimpinellifolia of Linnæus. If taken internally, Fée says, it would tend to aggravate the disease so treated, in a very high degree.

2352See c.38. Also B. xxvi. c. 55.

2353See c.38of this Book; also B. xvi. c. 31.

2354From the herb “hysge,” used for dyeing a deep red. See B. ix. c. 65, and B. xxi. c. 36. No such colour, Fée says, can be obtained from the petals of either the Lilium Martagon or the Gladiolus communis, with which it has been identified.

2355It has no such effect; and the slave-dealers certainly lost their pains in cosmetizing their slaves with it, their object being to make them look younger than they really were, and not older, as Hardouin seems to think.

2356See c.10of this Book.

2357White specks in the pupil of the eye, or whiteness of the cornea.

2358See c.39of this Book.

2359“Ground-laurel.”

2360See c.50, and B. xxiii. c.83. The medicinal properties of this plant are not developed to any great extent; but it was thought till lately, Fée says, to be an excellent diuretic.

2361See c.49and B. xxvi. c. 50.

2362The Thymus acinos of Linnæus.

2363See c.51of this Book. It is an alimentary plant, but eaten raw, it is possessed of some acridity.

2364The Cyperus esculentus of Linnæus, the esculent souchet.

2365The two varieties are identified with the Cressa Cretica and the Teucrium iva of Linnæus. The latter plant is said to be a sudorific.

2366See B. xxvi. c. 53.

2367The Matricaria parthenium of Linnæus. See c.52.

2368De Re Med. ii. 33. It must not be confounded with the plant of that name mentioned in c. 62 of this Book.

2369The Solanum nigrum of Linnæus, or black night-shade. See B. xxi. c.108.

2370The Physalis alkekengi of Linnæus; red night-shade, alkekengi, or winter cherry. Fée remarks, that the varieties of this plant in Egypt are very numerous, and that in many places, till very recently, it was employed as an article of food.

2371“Vesica.”

2372The Solanum villosum of Lamarck.

2373Fromδορὺ, a “spear.”

2374“Apertius,” as suggested by Sillig, is a preferable reading to “parcius.”

2375Fromμάνια, “madness.”

2376The Physalis somnifera of Linnæus, the somniferous nightshade.

2377The Solanum melongena of Linnæus.

2378The Corchorus olitorius of Linnæus. See B. xxv. c. 92.

Back to Index Next