Chap. 15.] THE SALICASTIITTM. 455 



for stings 42 inflicted by serpents ; but, as to the seed, I would 

 strongly recommend its rejection, on account of its extremely 

 pungent properties. Some persons give to this plant the name 

 of " pituitaria," 43 and use it as a common application for 

 stings inflicted by serpents. 



. 14. - THE LABRUSCA, OK WILD TINE : TWELTE REMEDIES. 



The labrusca, too, produces an oenanthe, which has been 

 described at sufficient length already : 44 by the Greeks the la- 

 brusca is known as the wild vine. 45 The leaves of it are thick 

 and of a whitish colour, the stem is jointed, and the bark full 

 of fissures : it bears grapes of a scarlet 46 hue, like the coccus, 

 which are made use of by females for the purpose of improving 

 the complexion, and removing spots upon the face. Pounded 

 with the leaves and the juice extracted from the tree, these 

 gropes are usefully employed for the treatment of lumbago 

 and sciatica. A decoction of the root 47 in water, taken in two 

 cyathi of Coan wine, promotes an alvine evacuation of aqueous 

 secretions ; for which reason it is prescribed for dropsy. 



I am inclined to think that this is the plant that is com- 

 monly known as the "uva taminia;''' 48 it is in great request as 

 an amulet, and is employed, though as a gargle only, in cases 

 of spitting blood ; for which purpose, salt, thyme, and oxymel 

 are added to it, care being taken not to swallow any of the 

 mixture. It is generally looked upon as unsafe to employ it as 

 a purgative. 



CHAP. 15. - THE SALICASTRTJM I TWELVE REMEDIES. 



There is another plant, 49 similar to the labrusca, but found 



42 They would be of no use whatever, Fee says, for such a purpose. 



43 As tending to carry off u pituita," or phlegm. 



44 In B. xii. c. 61. 



45 " Ampelos agria." Fee observes, that this Chapter is full of errors, 

 Pliny beginning by speaking of the wild vine, the variety Labrusca of the 

 Vitis vinifera of Linnanis, and then proceeding to describe what is really 

 the Bryonia dioica of modern botany, and applying its characteristics to 

 the wild vine, or labrusca. 



46 This is not the case with the wild vine. 



47 The root of the wild vine is not of a purgative nature. 



48 As already stated, this is not identical with the wild vine, but is the 

 Tamus communis of Linnaeus. 



49 The Solanum dulcamara of modern botany has been suggested; 

 though there is but little resemblance between the leaves of that variety of 

 nightshade and those of the wild vine. 



VOL. iv. H H 



