168 



PLINY S NATURAL HISTOBY. [Book XXVI. 



plant which grows in meadows and corn-fields, with a white 

 odoriferous flower. The stem is diminutive, and is beaten up 

 in old wine. 



CHAP. 25. — CHALCETUM ; TWO REMEDIES. MOLEMONIUM ; 

 ONE EEMEDY. 



Chalcetum' also is the name of a plant, which is pounded 

 with grape husks and applied topically, for the cure of liver 

 complaints. Eoot of betony acts as a gentle emetic, taken in 

 the same way as hellebore, in doses of four drachmae in 

 raisin wine or' honied wine. Hyssop, too, is beaten up with 

 honey for similar purposes ; but it is more efficacious if nas- 

 turtium or irio^ is taken first. 



Molemonium® is used as an emetic, being taken in doses of one 

 denarius ; the same, too, with sillybum.^ Both of these plants 

 have a milky juice, which thickens like gum, and is taken with 

 honey in the proportions above-mentioned, being particularly 

 good for carrying off bile. On the other hand, vomiting is 

 arrested by the use of wild cummin or powdered betony, 

 taken in water. Crudities and distaste for food are dispelled, 

 and the digestion promoted by employing daucus,^'' powdered 

 betony'^ taken in hydromel, or else plantago boiled like 

 greens. Hiccup is arrested by taking hemionium^^ or aristo- 

 iochia,^' and asthma by the use of clymenus.^* For pleurisy 

 and peripneumony, the greater centaury is used, or else 

 hyssop, taken in drink. Juice of peucedanum ^^ is also good 

 for pleurisy. 



known, but of tlie two, would prefer the Lychnis dioica of Linnaeus, the 

 White lychnis, or White campion. 



fi C. Bauhin identifies it with the Valeriana locusta of Linnaeus, Corn 

 ralerian. Corn-salad, or Lamb's lettuce. F^e considers its identity as still 

 unknown. "^ See B. xviii. c. 10. 



** Perhaps the same as the Limonium of B. xxv. c. 61. 



» See B. xiii. c. 42 ; one of the Sonchi, probably, which contain a 

 milky juice. Littre gives the Sonchus palustris of Linnaeus. 



10 See B. xxv. c. 6-1. 



11 The Betonica officinalis of Linnaeus. 



12 Either the Asplenium ceteracli of Linnasus, Spleenwort, Ceterach, or 

 Miltwaste, or the A. hemionitis of Linnaeus, Mule's fern. See B. xxvii. c. 17. 



13 See B. xxv. c. 54. 1"^ See B. xxv. c. 33. 

 15 See B. xxv. c. 70. • 



