Ctap. 34.] THE CERATIA. 173 



Castor has given a different description of this plant. Ac- 

 cording to him, it has a smaller leaf,^*^ like horse-hair,^^ with a 

 long, smooth, stem, and grows in watery localities. With the 

 root of it he used to treat scrofulous sores and indurations. 

 Potamogiton neutralizes the effects of the bite of the crocodile ; 

 hence it is that those who go in pursuit of that animal, are in 

 the habit of carrying it about them. 



Achillea^^ also arrests looseness of the bowels; an effect 

 equally produced by the statice,^^ a plant with seven heads, like 

 those of the rose, upon as many stems. 



CHAP. 34. THE CERATIA : TWO REMEDIES. LEONTOPODION, LEU- 



CEOEON, DOEIPETEON, OR THORYBETHKON. LAGOPUS I THKEE 

 REMEDIES. 



The ceratia^* is a plant with a single^^ leaf, and a large 

 knotted root : taken with the food, it is curative of cceliac 

 affections and dysentery. 



Leontopodion,^^ a plant known also as " leuceoron," '* dori- 

 petron," or " thorybethron," has a root which acts astringently 

 upon the bowels and carries off bile, being taken in doses of 

 two denarii in hydromel. It grows in champaign localities 

 with a poor soil : the seed, taken in drink, produces night-mare," 

 it is said, in the sleep. 



Lagopus^® arrests diarrhoea, taken in wine, or, if there are 

 symptoms of fever, in water. This plant is attached to the 

 groin, for tumours in that part of the body : it grows in corn- 

 fields. Many persons recommend, in preference to anything else, 



^^ C. Bauhin and Sprengel identify the plant here described with the 

 Potaraogeton pusillum of Linnaeus ; but Fee considers it extremely doubtful. 



*^ A species of Equisetum would seem to be meant ; indeed, Littre gives 

 the Equisetum telmateia. ^^ gge B. xxv, c. 19. 



=^ Fee thinks that this may possibly be theStatice Armeria of Linnsus, 

 Sea thrift, or Sea gilly-fiower. 



^ Considered by Sprengel to be the Cyclaminos charaaBcissos of B. xxv. 

 c. 69, which he identifies with the Convallaria bifolia of Linnseus, the 

 Little lily of the valley, or May lily. Fabius Columna and Brotero con- 

 sider it to be the Dentaria trifolia, Three-leaved toothwort. 



^5 This is incorrect, if it is the Lily of the vaUey. 



*s "Lion's paw," "white plant," or "rock-spear." Probably the 

 Leontice leontopetalum of Linnaius, Lion's paw, or Lion's leaf. See B. 

 xxvii. c. 72. *^ " Lymphatica somnia." 



^'^ " Hare's foot." Possibly the Trifolium arvense of Linnaeus, Hare's 

 foot trefoil. 



