364 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XXI. 



serpiginous ulcers, those of the throat more particularly, being 

 usually applied with wine or vinegar. 



CHAP. 71. THE HOLOSCHCENUS. 



The root of the rush, boiled down to one third in three 

 heminae of water, is a cure for cough ; the seed of it, parched 

 and taken in water, arrests looseness of the bowels and the 

 menstrual discharge, though at the same time it causes head- 

 ache. The name given to this rush is holoschcenus ; the parts 

 of it nearest the root are chewed, as a cure for the bites of 

 spiders. 



I find mention made, also, of one other kind of rush, the 

 name of which is " euripice ;" 49 the seed, they say, is narcotic, 

 but the greatest care is necessary, not to throw the patient into 

 a lethargy. 



CHAP. 72. TEN REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THE SWEET-SCENTED 



RTJSH, OR TEUCHITES. 



"We will also take this opportunity of mentioning the me- 

 dicinal properties of the sweet-scented rush, which is found 

 in Ccele- Syria, as already stated by us in the appropriate 

 place. 50 The most esteemed kind, however, is that which 

 grows in the country of the Nabatsei, and is known as the 

 " teuchites ;" 51 the next best being the produce of Babylonia, 

 and the very worst that of Africa, which is entirely destitute 

 of smell. This rush is round, and when applied to the tongue, 

 has a pungent, vinous flavour. The genuine kind, when 

 rubbed, gives out an odour like that of the rose, and when 

 broken asunder it is red within. It dispels flatulency, and 

 hence it is very good for the stomach, and for persons when 

 vomiting the bile or blood. It arrests hiccup also, promotes 

 eructations, acts as a diuretic, and is curative of affections of 

 the bladder. A decoction of it is used for female complaints ; 

 and in cases of opisthotony, it is applied in plasters with dry 

 resin, these being highly valued for their warming properties. 



CHAP. 73. REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THE FLOWERS BEFORE MEN- 

 TIONED : THIRTY-TWO REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THE ROSE. 



The rose is of an astringent and refreshing nature. For 



49 Mentioned also by Dioscorides. It has not been identified. 



50 B. xii. c. 48. 



51 Dioscorides says that it grows in Babylonia. It is a variety, no 

 doubt, of the Andropogon schcenanthtis. 



