26 Pliny's natural history. [Book XXIV. 



the tree itself, and another distils from an incision some three 

 fingers in width, made in the bark while the tree is in blossom. 

 This last is very useful for dispersing humours which impede 

 the sight, acting also as an inspissative when needed, promoting 

 the discharge of the urine, and bringing abscesses of all kinds 

 to a head. The third kind of juice exudes from the wounds, 

 when the branches are lopt off with the bill. Either of these 

 juices, warmed in a pomegranate rind, is used as an injection 

 for diseases of the ears. The leaves, too, boiled and beaten 

 up with wax, are employed as a liniment for similar purposes, 

 and for gout. The bark and leaves, boiled in wine, form a 

 decoction that is remarkably useful as a fomentation for aifec- 

 tions of the sinews. The blossoms, bruised with the leaves, 

 remove scaly eruptions of the face ; and the leaves, bruised and 

 taken in drink, check libidinous tendencies,^^ and effectually 

 put an end to them, if habitually employed. 



The seed of the black willow of Ameria,^^ mixed with 

 litharge in equal proportions, and applied to the body just 

 after the bath, acts as a depilatory. 



CHAP. 38. THE VITEX : THIRTY-THREE REMEDIES, 



Not much unlike the willow, for the use that is made of it 

 in wicker-work, is the vitex,®^ which also resembles it in the 

 leaves and general appearance, though the smell of it is more 

 agreeable. The Greeks call it ''lygos," or "agnos,"^ from 

 the fact that the matrons of Athens, during the Thesmo- 

 phoria,®® a period when the strictest chastity is observed, are 

 in the habit of strewing their beds with the leaves of this tree. 



There are two species of vitex : the larger^^ one, like the 

 willow, attains the full proportions of a tree ; while the other, *^^ 

 which is smaller, is branchy, with a paler, downy leaf. The 

 first kind, generally known as the "white" vitex, bears a 



^'- The leaves have no effect whatever as an antaphrodisiac. 



C3 See B. xvi. c. 69. 



^•* The Vitex agnus castas of Linnaeus, the tree of chastity. 



^^ The "chaste" tree. It is no longer used in medicine; the fruit has some- 

 what the flavour of spice, Fee says, and taken internally it would have the 

 converse of an antaphrodisiac effect. The other parts of it are quite inert. 



^^ An Attic festival celebrated yearly in honour of Demeter, which 

 lasted four or five days. It was also celebrated in other parts of Greece. 



^^ The Vitex agnus castus of Lamarck, variety (3, Elatior. 



^^ The Vitex aguus castus of Linnaeus, the type. 



