Chap. 18.J THE LEUCACA^THA. 405 



root, to mention the patient's name, and to state who he is and 

 who are his parents. They say, too, that this plant is pro- 

 ductive of similar results in quartan fever : and they pretend 

 that the root of the nettle, with the addition of salt, will ex- 

 tract foreign substances from the body ; and that the leaves, 

 mixed with stale axle-grease, will disperse scrofulous sores, or 

 if they suppurate, cauterize them and cause them to fill up 

 with new flesh. 



CHAP. 17. (15.) THE SCOEPIO, TWO KINDS OF IT: ONE REMEDY. 



The scorpio^-^ has received its appellation from the animal of 

 that name, in consequence of the resemblance of its seeds to a 

 scorpion's tail. The leaves of it are few in number, and it is 

 efficacious for the sting^* of the animal from which it derives 

 its name. There is also another plant^^ known by the same 

 name, and possessed of similar properties ; it is destitute of 

 leaves, has a stem like that of asparagus, ^^ and a shai^p point 

 at the top, to which it owes its appellation. 



CHAP. 18. (16.) THE LEUCACANTHA, PHYLLOS, ISCHIAS, OR 



POLYGONATOS ; FOUR REMEDIES. 



The leucacantha,^^ known also as the phyllos, ischias, or 

 polygonatos,^^ has a root like that of the cypirus, which, when 

 chewed, has the effect of curing^^ tooth-ache ; as also pains in 

 the sides and loins, according to Hicesius, the seed or juice 

 being taken in drink, in doses of eight drachmae. — This plant 

 is employed also for the cure of ruptures and convulsions. 



*3 The Spartium scorpius of Linnaeus, or the Scorpiurus sulcata of Lin- 

 naeus : scorpion-grass, or scorpion-wort. 



9* Its properties are entirely inert, and it has no such virtues as those 

 here mentioned. As Fee remarks, we might be quite sure, however, from 

 the form of the seeds, that this property would be ascribed to it in the 

 Materia Medica of the ancients. 



35 Supposed to be the Salsola tragus of Linnaeus, kali, or glass-wort. 



^ Not the Asparagus officinalis, Fee says, but the Asparagus acutifolius, 

 the stem of which is somewhat prickly. 



9^ See B. xxi. cc. 56 and 104, in which last Chapter it is called " leucan- 

 thes." Desfontaines suggests that it may be either the Carduus leuco- 

 graphus, or the Cnicum Casabonae. 



^^ Literally, "many-cornered." " Leucacontha" means " whitethorn," 

 and *' Leucanthes" '• white-flowered." 



99 Fee thinks this very improbable. 





