264 plint's natueal history. [Book XXVII. 



CHAP. 101. — THE PHELLANDRION : TWO REMEDIES. 



The phellandrion'^ grows in marshy spots, and has a leaf like 

 that of parsley : the seed of it is taken in drink for calculi and 

 affections of the bladder. 



CHAP. 102. THE PHALARIS I TWO REMEDIES. 



The phalaris''® has a long thin stem, like a reed, with a 

 drooping flower at the extremity ; the seed is like that of 

 sesame." This plant, too, taken with milk and honey, in wine 

 or vinegar, breaks urinary calculi, and is curative of diseases 

 of the bladder. 



CHAP. 103.— THE POLTERHIZOIir : FIVE REMEDIES. 



The polyrrhizon'''^ has leaves like those of myrtle, and 

 numerous roots. These roots are pounded and administered 

 in wine, for injuiies inflicted by serpents : they are useful, also, 

 for cattle. 



CHAP. 104. THE PROSERPINACA : FIVE EEMEDIES. 



The proserpinaca,'^ a common plant enough, is an excellent 

 remedy for the sting of the scorpion. Powdered and mixed 

 with brine and oil, in which the masna^*' has been preserved, it 

 is an excellent cure, they say, for quinzy.^' It is also stated 

 that, however fatigued a person may be, to the extent even of 

 losing his voice, he will be sure to be refreshed, by putting this 

 plant beneath his tongue ; and that if it is eaten, a vomit will 

 be the result, productive of good effects. 



'* Linnaeus has given to the Fine-leaved water-hemlock the name of 

 Phellandrium aquaticum, but the seeds of that plant are an active poison. 

 It is probable that the Phellandrium, or "Male-cork-plant" of Pliny, 

 still remains unknown. 



"6 Possibly the Phalaris aquatiea of Linnaeus, the Water canary-grass. 

 Littre gives as its synonym, the Phalaris nodosa of Linnaeus, Knotted 

 canary-grass. See Beckmann, Hist. Inv. Vol. I. p. 34, Bohn's Ed. 



'''' This is an exaggeration ; Dioscorides says " millet." 



""^ Possibly the plant mentioned in B. xxv. c. 54 ; though the Aristo- 

 lochia has not leaves like those of the myrtle. 



'9 Supposed to be identical with the Polygonos, mentioned above in c. 91. 



8® See B. ix. c. 42, and B. xxvi. c. 11. From this passage it would 

 appear that the maena was preserved in a somewhat similar way to our 

 Sardines. " See B. xxvi. c. 11. 



