Chap. 37.] POLTPODION. 175 



flatulency and gripings of the bowels. It is taken also, in the 

 form, of an electuary, for affections of the chest, with honey, 

 or in some cases, with iris.^^ Taken in doses of from four to 

 six drachmae, with honey and a little salt and vinegar, it 

 relaxes the bowels. 



Some persons, again, give a different description of epithymon : 

 according to them, it is a plant without*^ a root, diminutive, 

 and bearing a flower resembling a small hood, and of a red colour. 

 They tell us, too, that it is dried in the shade and taken in 

 water, in doses of half an acetabulum ; and that it has a slightly 

 laxative effect upon .the bowels, and carries off the pituitous 

 humours and bile. Nymphaea''^ is taken for similar purposes, 

 in astringent wine. 



CHAP. 36. PTCNOCOMON ; FOUE EEMEDIES. 



Pycnocomon,'^ too, is a purgative. It is a plant with leaves 

 like those of rocket, only thicker and more acrid ; the root is 

 round, of a yellow colour, and with an earthy smell. The 

 stem is quadrangular, of a moderate length, thin, and sur- 

 mounted with a flower like that of ocimum.''- It is found 

 growing in rough stony soils. The root, taken in doses of two 

 denarii in hydromel, acts as a purgative upon the bowels, 

 and effectually carries off bile and pituitous humours. The 

 seed, taken in doses of one drachma in wine, is productive of 

 dreams and restlessness. Capnos,^^ too, carries off bile by the 

 urine. 



CHAP. 37. POLTPOniON : THKEE EEMEDIES. 



Polypodion,''* known to us by the name of " filicula,'* bears 

 some resemblance to fern. The root of it is used medicinally ; 



68 See B. xxi. c. 19. 



69 It has a root originally, but the root withers as soon as it has attached 

 itself to the stem of the plant to which it clings. 



'" See B. XXV. c. 37. Holland says, on the contrary, that it is a binding 

 plant. 



71 " Thick hair." It is generally identified with the Leonurus mar- 

 rubiastrum of Linnaeus. Colurana makes it to be the Scabiosa succisa of 

 Linnaeus, the Devil's bit scabious, and Bruusfeld the Angelica silvestris of 

 Linnaeus, Wild angelica. 



'2 See B. xxi. c. 60. "'^ See B. xxv. c. 98. 



'* " Many-footed." The Polypodium vulgare of Linnaeus, the Common 

 polypody. 



