Chap. 4.] AGEEATOK. 221 



that it is called *' aconitum." there being not so much as dust / 

 even about it to conduce to its nutriment. Such is the reason ' 

 given for its name by some : but according to others, it re- 

 ceives this appellation from the fact that it fatally exercises the 

 same effects upon the body that the whetstone ^^ does upon the ; 

 edge of iron, being na sooner employed than its effects are felt. \ L at, 



CHAP. 3. (4.) ^THIOPIS : FOUR REMEDIES, 



^thiopis-^ is a plant with leaves resembling those of phlo- 

 mos,'^^ large, numerous, hairy, and springing from the root. 

 The stem is square, rough, similar to that of arction'^* in ap- 

 pearance, and with numerous axillary concavities. The seed 

 resembles that of the fitch, being white and twofold ; the roots 

 are several in number, long, fleshy, soft, and of a viscous taste ; 

 when dry they turn black and hard, and might easily be taken 

 for horns. In addition to Ethiopia, this plant grows upon 

 Mount Ida in Troas, and in Messenia. The roots are gathered 

 in autumn, and left to dry for some days in the sun, to prevent 

 them from turning mouldy. Taken in white wine they are 

 . curative of affections of the uterus, and a decoction of them 

 is administered for sciatica, pleurisy, and eruptions of the 

 throat. The kind, however, which comes from -(Ethiopia, is 

 by far the best, and gives instantaneous relief. 



CHAP. 4. AGERATOJiT : FOUR REMEDIES. 



Ageraton'-^ is a ferulaceous plant, a couple of palms in height, 

 similar to origanum-^ in appearance, and bearing flowers like 

 balls of gold. Used as a fumigation, this plant acts as a 

 diuretic ; and as a detergent upon the uterus, when used in a 

 sitting bath more particularly. Its name has been given to it, 

 from the circumstance that it keeps a very long time without 

 fading. 



-^ Also called aKovt). 



2^ Generally identified with the Salvia argentea of Linnaeus, Silver sage, 

 ov else with the Salvia ^thiopis, Woolly sage. It must not be confounded 

 with the plant of the same name mentioned in B. xxiv. c. 102. 



25 See B. XXV. c. 73. 



-=* See c. 16 of this Book. 



2^ " Not growing old." It is identified by Fee and Desfontaines with 

 the Achilltea ageratum of Linnoeus, Sweet milfoil or Maudlin. Littre 

 gives as its synonym, the Hypericum origanifolium, 



-' See B. XX. c. 67. 



