Chap. 66.] PHYCOS THALASSTON. 193 



bristling with a greater number of leaves, covered with rugo- 

 sities, full of a more acrid juice, and possessed of a powerful 

 smell. The kind that resembles anagallis most closely, is 

 known as moUugo.^^ Asperugo^- is a similar plant, only with 

 a more prickly leaf. The juice of the first is taken daily, in 

 doses of one denarius, in two cyathi of wine. 



CHAP. 66. PHTCOS THALASSION OE SEA-WEED : THKEE VARIETIES 



OF IT. LAPPA BOAEIA. 



But it is the phycos thalassion, or sea-weed, ^^ more particu- 

 larly, that is so excellent a remedy for the gout. It resembles 

 the lettuce in appearance, and is used as the basis in dyeing 

 tissues with the purple of the murex.^'* Used before it be- 

 comes dry, it is efficacious as a topical application not only 

 for gout, but for all diseases of the joints. There are three 

 kinds of it ; one with a broad leaf, another with a longer leaf 

 of a reddish hue, and a third with a crisped leaf, and used in 

 Crete for dyeing cloths.^^ All these kinds have similar pro- 

 perties ; and we find Nicauder prescribing them in wine as an 

 antidote to the venom of serpents even. The seed also of the 

 plant which we have spoken of as " psyllion,"^^ is useful for 

 the cure of gout : it is first steeped in water, and one hemina of 

 the seed is then mixed with two spoonfuls of resin of Colophon, 

 and one spoonful of frankincense. Leaves of mandragora,^' 

 too, are highly esteemed for this purpose, beaten up with 

 polenta. 



(11.) For swellings of the ankles, slime,^^ kneaded up with 

 oil, is wonderfully useful, and for swellings of the joints the 

 juice of the smaller centaury ; this last being remarkably good 

 also for diseases of the sinews. Centauris,^^ too, is very useful ; 

 and for pains in the sinews of the shoulder-blades, shoulders, 



21 Identified with the Galium moUugo of Linnaeus, Great ladies' bed- 

 straw, or "Wild bastard madder. 



^- The Asperugo procumbens of Linnaeus has been named, but Fee re- 

 marks that from its resemblance to Mollugo, the plant must be sought 

 among the Rubiaceoe, and not among the Borragineae. 



^■^ '* Fucus marinus." See B. xiii. c. 48. 



^^ "Qui conchyliis substernitur." See Beckmann's Hist. Inv. Vol. I. 

 p. 36, Bohn's Ed. 



3^ What Fucus or Laminaria this may have been is now unkno^vn. 



^6 See B. XXV. c. 90. ^7 gee B. xxv. c. 94. 



3s "Limus aquaticus." ^o ggg b_ ^^y_ ^. 32. 



VOL. v. O 



