248 pliny's natueal histoet. [Book XXVII. 



treatment : an eye-salve, too, is prepared from the juice, known 

 as " diaglaucia," to medical men. The milk, when the secretion 

 of it is stopped, is restored by the agency of this plant, for which 

 purpose it is taken in water. 



CHAP. 60. THE GLTCYSIDE, P^ONIA, OK PENTOEOBOS '. TWENTY 



EEMEDIES. 



The glycyside,'''^ by some called " pseonia" or " pentorobos," 

 has a stem two cubits in length, accompanied by two or three 

 others, and of a reddish colour, with a bark like that of the 

 laurel. The leaves are similar to those of isatis,^^ but more 

 unctuous, rounder, and more diminutive ; the seed is enclosed 

 in capsules, some being red and some black, there being 

 two varieties of the plant. The female plant is generally 

 thought to be the one to the root of which some six or eight 

 bulbs are attached, of an elongated form ; those of the male 

 plant^^ being more in number, as it throws out more roots than 

 one, a palm in lengtli, and of a white colour : it has also an 

 astringent taste. The leaves of the female plant smell like 

 myrrh, ^- and lie closer together than those of the male. 



Both plants grow in the woods, and they should always be 

 taken up at night, '^ it is said ; as it would be dangerous to do 

 so in the day-time, the woodpecker of Mars being sure to 

 attack the eyes^* of the person so engaged. It is stated also 

 that the person, while taking up the root, runs great risk of 

 being attacked with procidence of the anus : all this, however, 

 I take to be so much fiction, most frivolously invented to puff 

 off their supposed marvellous properties. Both plants are used^^ 

 for various purposes : the red seed, taken in red wine, about 

 fifteen in number, arrest menstruation ; while the black seed, 

 taken in the same proportion, in either raisin or other wine, 

 are curative of diseases of the uterus. The root, taken in wine, 

 allays all kinds of pains in the bowels, and acts as a purgative; 

 it cures opisthotony also, jaundice, nephritic diseases, and affec- 

 tions of the bladder. Boiled in wine, it is used for diseases of 



'** The Peony ; described in B. xxv. c. 10. 



'•'^ See B. XX. c. 25, and B. xxii. c. 2. ^^ See B. xxv. c. 10. 



^2 In reality it is destitute of smelL 



8^ See B. xxv. c. 10. 



^* Or, as Holland says, would " be ready to job out their eyes." 



^^ In reality, the peony has uo medicinal virtues whatever. 



