Chap. 26.] THE ANTHEMIS. 411 



swarthy at other times. It grows in sandy soils, and is ex- 

 tremely efficacious for the stings of serpents, vipers in particular, 

 the roots or leaves of it being taken indifferently with the 

 food, or in the drink. It developes its virtues at harvest-time, 

 more especially: the leaves of it, when bruised, have just the 

 smell of a cucumber. This plant is prescribed, in doses of 

 three cyathi, for prolapsus of the uterus, and, taken with hys- 

 sop, it expels tape-worms. For pains in the liver or kidneys, 

 it is taken in hydromel, if the patient shows symptoms of fever, 

 but if not, in wine. With the root of it a liniment is made, 

 for the removal of freckles and leprous sores ; and it is asserted 

 that persons who carry this root about them will never be at- 

 tacked by serpents. 



There is another 33 plant, again, very similar to this, with a 

 red flower, and somewhat smaller. It is applied to the same 

 ises as the other ; it is asserted, too, that if it is chewed, and 

 then spit out upon a serpent, it will cause its instantaneous 

 leath. 



:iIAP. 26. THE ANTHEMIS, LEUCATJTHEMIS, LEUCANTHEHUM, 



CHAMJEMELTJM, OR MELANTHIUM ; THKEE VARIETIES OF IT ! 

 ELEVEN RKMKDIKS. 



The anthemis has been highly extolled by Asclepiades. 

 Some persons call it " leucanthemis," 34 some leucanthemum, 

 )thers, again, " eranthemis," 35 from its flowering in spring, and 

 )thers " chamaemelon," 36 because it has a smell like that of an 

 ipple : sometimes, too, it is called " melanthion." 37 There are 

 ;hrec varieties of this plant, which only differ from one another 

 .n the flower ; they do not exceed a palm in height, and they 

 )ear small blossoms like those of rue, white, yellow, 38 or purple. 



This plant is mostly found in thin, poor soils, or growing 

 icar foot-paths. It is usually gathered in spring, and put by 



33 The Lithospermum fruticosum of Linnaeus ; cromill, or stone-crap. 



84 Fee, adopting the opinion of Sibthorpe, thinks that under these names 

 ?liny is speaking of several varieties of the Anthemis, or camomile, and he 

 dentifies them as follows : the Leucanthemis, or white camomile, he con- 

 siders to be the same as the Anthemis Chia of Linnaeus ; the Eranthemis 

 \Q be the Anthemis rosea of Sibthorpe ; the Melanthion to be the Anthemis 

 inctoria, or dyers' camomile of Sibthorpe : and the Chamaemelon to be the 

 Matricaria chamomilla of Linnaeus, the common camomile. Sprengel 

 liffers from these opinions as to the identification of the several varieties. 



85 " Spring flower." 36 " Ground apple." 



37 " Black flower." 38 " Malinis," apple-colour. 



