Chap. 50.] THE ELATINE. 243 



are small heads covered with prickles : it grows in watery 

 localities. 



This plant is used for the cure of chaps of the fundament 

 and of fistula; in which latter case the root is boiled down in 

 wine to the consistency of wax, to allow of its being introduced 

 into the fistula in the form of a salve. *^ It is employed, too, 

 for the cure of all kinds of warts : as a liniment for which, 

 the juice collected in the axils, as above mentioned, is also used 

 by some. 



CHAP. 48. THE DEYOPTEiaS : TWO EEMEDIES, 



The dryopteris,^^ which resembles fern in appearance, is 

 found growing upon trees ; the leaves are of a somewhat sweet- 

 ish^^ flavour and marked with slight indentations, and the 

 root is hairy. This plant is possessed of caustic properties,*' 

 and hence the root is pounded and used as a depilatory. In 

 using it the skin is rubbed with it till perspiration is excited, 

 the operation being repeated a second and a third time, care 

 being taken not to remove the perspiration. 



CHAP. 49. THE DErOPHONON. 



The dryophonon^^ is a similar plant, with thin stems a cubit 

 in length, and surrounded on either side with leaves about as 

 large as the thumb and like those of the oxymyrsine^^ in ap- 

 pearance, only whiter and softer : the blossom is white, and 

 similar to that of the elder. The shoots of it are eaten boiled, 

 and the seed is used as a substitute for pepper. 



CHAP. 50. THE ELATESTE : TWO EEMEDIES. 



The elatine*^ has leaves like those of the helxine,^^ diminu- 



51 "Collyrii." 



52 The same plant, probably, as the Polypodion of B. xxvi. c. 37. Littre, 

 however, identifies it with the Asplenium adiantum nigrum of Linnceus, the 

 Black maiden-hair, or spleenwort. 



^^ It is the root that is sweet, and not the leaves. 



^^ It has no such properties. 



5= The " oak-killer." Fee thinks that it may possibly be the Conval- 

 laria uniflora of Linnaeus. Desfontaines names the Cochlearia draba, and 

 Littre the Lepidium draba of Linnaeus. 



^^ See B. XV, cc. 7, 37, and B. xxiii. c. 83. 



^■^ Desfontaines and Fee identify it with the Antirrhinum spurium of 

 Linnaeus, Bastard toad-flax, calves' snout, or snapdragon. Littre gives 

 the Linaria Greeca as its synonym. ^^ See B. xxii. c. 19. 



E 2 



