Chapter 671

587“Herb of Hermes.”

588The male, as Fée suggests, bears no seed at all.

589A mere absurdity, of course.

590De Nat. Mul. and De Morb. Mul. B. i. and B. ii.

591The medicinal properties of the Mercurialis are not by any means energetic, but it is still used, Fée says, as a gentle aperient.

592B. xxvi. cc,74,76,89.

593Both stories are equally improbable.

594See B. xxxiv. c. 45.

595The weapons in early time, it must be remembered, were made of copper or bronze.

596The third Sideritis of Dioscorides is thought to be the same with the Heracleon siderion of c.15of this Book. Pliny evidently confounds the Achillea and the Sideritis, totally different plants. The Achillea is identified by Fée with the Achillea tomentosa or abrotonifolia of Linnæus. As to the Sideritis, see B. xxvi. c.12. TherealPanaces heracleon has been mentioned in c.12of this Book.

597Or “Thousand leaves,” probably identical with the Achillea millefolium of Linnæus, milfoil or yarrow. See B. xxiv. c.95.

598“Marrubii.”

599“Ironwort.” The third Sideritis of Dioscorides, above mentioned. See c. 15 of this Book. See also B. xxvi. cc. 12 and 88.

600Identified by Desfontaines with the Sanguisorba officinalis of Linnæus.

601“Royal broom,” identified by many commentators with the Chenopodium scoparia of Linnæus.

602Or “mule-plant.” It is identified by Fée with the Asplenion ceterach, or Ceterach officinarum of Linnæus, the Ceterach, a fern, and a different plant from the Teucrium of B. xxiv. c. 80, or Germander.

603Hence its name, “Asplenium.”

604“Exinanisse.” A fable, of course.

605The Teuerium lucidum of Linnæus: though, as Fée says, there is little similarity between it and hyssop, or between its leaves and those of the bean. See B. xxiv. c.80.

606Identified by Fée with the Veratrum album and Veratrum nigrum of Linnæus, species between which there is little difference.

607Identified by Tournefort with the Helleborus niger of Lamarck. Littré mentions the Helleborus orientalis of Linnæus.

608The stem of white hellebore is much longer than this.

609This comparison with the onion, Fée says, is altogether inexact.

610If he would imply that they do this without inconvenience, the statement, Fée says, is incorrect.

611“Cut off,” and “With many roots.”

612Hellebore is no longer used, except in veterinary medicine.

613Petronius Arbiter says that the philosopher Chrysippus used it.

614M. Livius Drusus. See B. xxviii. c.42, and B. xxxiii. c. 6.

615Anticyra in Phocis was a peninsula,notan island.

616In B. xxii. c. 64.

617In B. xix. c. 18.

618Hence the Greek name “ectomon.”

619“Tenuior.”

620This is the meaning assigned by Hardouin to the word “ramulos.” Holland renders it “small shoots” or “slips,” and he is probably right.

621“Squama æris.”

622See a similar statement as to Consiligo, in B. xxvi c. 21.

623See B. xv. c. 7, and B. xxiv. c. 11.

624Its properties, Fée says, are not more active than those of black hellebore.

625Fée remarks, that they showed their wisdom in this.

626Herophilus, it must be remembered, lived a considerable time before Themison.

627“Forficulis.” He probably refers to c. 21, where, however, he has mentioned only a needle—“acus.” It is possibly alapsus memoriæon his part.

628This he has stated to be attended with danger, in the case of black hellebore, should the dose be too strong.

629In c. 21 of this Book.

630Twitchings of the mouth, which cause the patient to show his teeth, like a dog.

631Cæsalpinus identifies it with the Erythronium dens canis of Linnæus, and Commerson and Schreiber with the Dorstenia tambourissa of Sonnerat. Fée is probably right in considering its synonym as still unknown.

632Hardouin identifies it with the Stachys Germanica, Linnæus and Sprengel with the Nepeta scordotis of Linnæus, and Fée with the Stachys Palæstina.

633Fée remarks, that none of the plants mentioned in the last Note bear any resemblance to the “quercus,” or oak.

634Probably the Teucrium scorodonia of Linnæus, Fée says; though, as he remarks, the description might apply to many of the Labiatæ.

635Its names were derived from Polemon, a king of Pontus, and Philetærus, a king of Cappadocia. It is generally identified with the Polemonium cæruleum of Linnæus, Greek valerian, or Jacob’s ladder. M. Fraäs suggests that it may be the Hypericum Olympicum of Linnæus, with which he also identifies the Panaces chironion.

636“With a thousand virtues.”

637So called probably from a king Eupator. Sprengel and Desfontaines identify it with the Agrimonia eupatorium, but Fée prefers the Eupatorium cannabinum of Linnæus, relying upon the description given by Dioscorides. B. iv. c. 41.

638Fée considers this to be the same with the Panaces centaurion or Pharnaceon of c. 14 of this Book, the greater Centaury. Littré also names the Centaurea centaureum of Linnæus.

639See B. xii. c. 15. B. xxiii. cc. 58, 60, and B. xxiv. c. 77, for a preparation with a similar name, but, as Fée says, of an entirely different character.

640In B. xxvi. cc. 15, 19, 34, 55, 66, 76, 85, and 91.

641Or “small” centaury, Probably the Chironia centaureum of Smith,Flor. Brit., our Felwort. Littré names the Erythræa centaureum of Persoon.

642Fromλιβάδες, “flowing streams.”

643See B. xxi. cc. 10, 39, and 98, also c. 80 of this Book.

644“Fel terræ.”

645A word of Celtic origin, most probably, and not from the Greek, as Pintianus supposes.

646Theophrastus, as stated by Pliny, in B. ix. c. 9, says that centaury is protected by the “triorchis” (see B. x. cc. 95, 96), and Pliny in translating the passage has made a mistake as to a third kind. Fée is probably right in his conjecture that the Centaurea centaureum is meant; though Brotier and Desfontaines look upon this as being a distinct plant, and identify it with the Rumex sanguineus of Linnæus.

647The root of the greater centaury, Fée remarks, is of a deep red within.

648Pliny himself is one of the “imperiti” here.

649Son of Cæneus, and king of Arcadia. The plant is identified with the Lonicera periclymenum of Linnæus, our Woodbine or Honeysuckle. Sibthorp identifies the Clymenum of Dioscorides with the Convolvulus sepium of Linnæus, and Sprengel with the Lathyrus clymenum of Linnæus.

650Possibly the Clymenum of Dioscorides, mentioned in the preceding Note. Littré names the Calendula arvensis, the Field marigold.

651The Gentiana lutea of Linnæus.

652This, Fée remarks, is not the fact.

653This comparison is inexact.

654It isnotswarthy.

655A king of Thrace, contemporary with Alexander the Great. Sprengel and Desfontaines identify this plant with the Lythrum salicaria of Linnæus, the purple Willow-herb. Fée, on the authority of Dioscorides, identifies it with the Lysimachia vulgaris of Linnæus, the yellow Willow-plant. Littré gives the Lysimachia atro-purpurea of Linnæus.

656Pliny has probably mistranslated the Greekπυῤῥόνhere, “reddish yellow.”

657An absurdity, of course.

658Artemis or Diana, the guardian of pregnant women.

659Probably the Artemisia chamæmelifolia, Camomile-leaved mugwort. The A. arborescens, the Tree-wormwood is named by Littré.

660Either the Artemisia Pontica of Linnæus, Little wormwood, or Roman wormwood, or else A. campestris of Linnæus, Field southern-wood.

661Identified with the Artemisia camphorata of Linnæus, Camphorated mugwort.

662Quite a different plant. See B. xxvii. c. 11.

663Judging from the text of Dioscorides, a passage has been probably lost here, to the effect that “it is taken in drink by persons troubled with lascivious dreams.”

664Identified with the Nymphæa alba of Linnæus, the White-flowered nymphæa.

665“Adversatur ei allium.” A corrupt reading, in all probability.

666The Nuphar lutea of Sibthorp; the Yellow-flowered nymphæa, or Nenuphar.

667See B. v. c. i.

668In B. xix. c. 38.

669Il. xii. 444.

670The Euphorbia officinarum of Linnæus, Officinal spurge.

671An incorrect statement, as Fée remarks.

672Its odour, Fée says, is not so strong as Pliny would have us believe.

673On the contrary, Fée observes, it would be not unlikely to produce ophthalmia of the most obstinate kind.

674This Fée considers to be almost impracticable.

675Cisalpine Gaul.

676See B. xiii. c. 35.

677See B. xii. c. 49, B. xxiv. c. 14, and B. xxxi. c. 39.

678The Plantago lagopus of Linnæus, according to Sibthorp; but Sprengel identifies it with the Plantago lanceolata of Linnæus, or else the P. maritima.

679The Plantago altissima or major of modern botany.

680I.e.the ribs, nerves, or sinews of the leaf.

681“Seven-sided.”

682Whence its name, from the Greek. Sprengel and Desfontaines identify it with the Borrago officinalis of Linnæus, our Borage. Littré gives the Anchusa Italica.

683Though Pliny’s assertion is supported by the authority of the School of Salerno, Fée treats it as entirely unfounded. Leaves of borage still form an ingredient in the beverages known as Copas and Cider-cup at Cambridge. See this usage, and the identity of the Buglossos discussed at some length by Beckmann, Hist. Inv. Vol. ii. p. 340,Bohn’s Ed.

684“Promoting cheerfulness.”

685“Dog’s tongue.” The Cynoglossum officinale of Linnæus, Hound’s tongue, or Venus’ navel-wort; or else the C. pictum of Aiton.

686Fée is at a loss to know how it can have been employed in topiary work or ornamental gardening.

687This statement is made by Dioscorides with reference to Arnoglossos, Lamb’s tongue, or Plantago. See c. 39, above.

688Identified with the Myosotis lappula of Linnæus, Prickly-seeded scorpion-grass.

689See B. xxi. c. 64.

690“Ranis.” Under this name he probably includes toads.

691Sprengel and Desfontaines identify it with the Anthemis valentina of Linnæus, the Purple-stalked camomile; but Fée agrees with Sibthorp in considering it to be the Chrysanthemum segetum of Linnæus, the Corn marigold, the former not being, apparently, a native of Greece. Littré gives the Chrysanthemum coronarium of Linnæus, the Garland chrysanthemum.

692“Steatomata.” Tumours of a fatty nature.

693Generally agreed to be identical with the Glycyrrhiza of B. xxii. c. 2, our Liquorice. Fée says that the G. asperrima grows in great abundance on the banks of the river Volga.

694See B. xxvii. c. 1.

695Liquorice certainly palls the appetite, but it is very apt to create thirst.

696In copying from the Greek, Pliny has mistaken “hippace,” a cheese made from mare’s milk, for a plant! It is very likely, however, that it would tend, like any other cheese, to appease hunger, though, probably, not thirst.

697He has probably invented this reason himself, as it is hardly probable that the Scythians would feed their horses with cheese, even though made from mare’s milk.

698Sprengel identifies it with the Andropogon ischæmon of Linnæus, the Woolly andropogon. Fée expresses his doubts as to its identification. It derives its name “ischæmon,” from its property of stanching blood.

699To arrest epistaxis or bleeding at the nose.

700The Betonica alopecuros of Linnæus, the Fox-tail betony.

701The “little saw.”

702“Nurtured by breezes.” M. Fraäs thinks that the Cestros of the Greeks is a different plant from the Vettonica of the Romans, and identifies it with the Sideritis Syriaca.

703See B. xx. c. 85.

704Pliny is the only author that mentions the Cantabrica, and his account, Fée thinks, is too meagre to enable us satisfactorily to identify it with the Convolvulus cantabrica of Linnæus.

705A conical work-basket or cup. See B. xxi. c. 11.

706Sprengel and other commentators identify it with the Pulmonaria officinalis of Linnæus, Lungwort or Pulmonary. Others, again, consider it to be the Veratrum album of Linnæus, or White hellebore. Fée considers that its synonym has not hitherto been discovered. Holland calls it Bear-foot.

707B. xxvi. c. 21.

708Fée identifies it with the Lepidium graminifolium of Linnæus, Grass-leaved pepperwort; Desfontaines with the L. Iberis of Linnæus, Bushy pepperwort. Littré gives as its synonym the Iberis amara of Linnæus, the White candy-tuft.

709“Fictum nomen.” Salmasius thinks that by these words, Pliny means that Democrates invented the name of a friend of his as being the discoverer of this plant, which in reality was discovered by himself. It would seem to mean, however, that the name “iberis” was only a fanciful title, derived from the country where it was found, and given to it for want of acquaintance with its real name.

710Still preserved in Galen, B. x. c. 2.

711The Chelidonium majus of Linnæus, the Greater celandine or swallow-wort.

712“Pastinaca erratica.” See c. 64 of this Book.

713Identified with the Ranunculus ficaria of Linnæus, the Pilewort, or Lesser celandine.

714The same is the case, Fée remarks, with numbers of other plants.

715“Collyriis.”

716The Dactylos of B. xxiv. c. 119, is supposed to be the plant alluded to. The word “canariam” is found here in former editions, but Sillig omits it. Indeed Pliny seems to say that it is quite unknown to him.

717In B. xxii. c. 37.

718From the Greekἕλκω, “to draw.”

719In B. viii. c. 41.

720The Origanum dictamnus of Linnæus, Dittany of Candia.

721This is an error: it grows, and doubtless did in Pliny’s time, in numerous other places; but that of Mount Ida in Crete was held in the highest esteem.

722It has all three, in fact; as Fée says, it is evident that Pliny never saw it. Its medicinal properties are no longer held in any esteem.

723“False-dittany.” It is generally identified with the Marrubium pseudodictamnus of Linnæus, the Shrubby white horehound; though perhaps on insufficient grounds.

724Fée is inclined, with Sprengel, to identify it with the Origanum Creticum of Linnæus. Other commentators have suggested the Origanum Tournefortii, the Thymus mastichina of Linnæus, and the Marrubium acetabulosum of Linnæus.

725See B. xx. c. 91.

726“Limes Diomedis.”

727“Most excellent for pregnancy.”

728See B. xxvi. c. 56.

729Identified by Fée with the Aristolochia rotunda of Linnæus, Rounded birthwort, a native of the south of France and the southern parts of Europe. Littré gives the Aristolochia pallida of Willdenow.

730Most probably the Aristolochia longa of Linnæus, found in France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Littré gives as its synonym the Aristolochia parvifolia of Sibthorp.

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