4 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTOET. [Book XXIV. 



herb called lotus, and of the plant of Egypt known by the 

 same name and as the " tree of the Syrtes." The berries of 

 the lotus, which is known among us as the " Grecian bean," 23 

 act astringently upon the bowels ; and the shavings of the wood, 

 boiled in wine, are useful in cases of dysentery, excessive 

 menstruation, vertigo, and epilepsy: they also prevent the 

 hair from falling off. It is a marvellous thing but there is no 

 substance known that is more bitter than the shavings of this 

 wood, or sweeter than the fruit. The sawdust also of the 

 wood is boiled in myrtle- water, and then kneaded and divided 

 into lozenges, which form a medicament for dysentery of re- 

 markable utility, being taken in doses of one victoriatus, 24 in 

 three cyathi of water. 



CHAP. 3. (3.) ACORNS I THIRTEEN REMEDIES. 



Acorns, 25 pounded with salted axle-grease, 25 * are curative of 

 those indurations known as " cacoethe." 26 The acorn of the 

 holm-oak, however, is the most powerful in its effects ; and 

 in all these trees the bark is still more efficacious, as well as 

 the inner membrane which lies beneath it. A decoction of 

 this last is good for coeliac affections ; and it is applied topically 

 in cases of dysentery, as well as the acorns, which are em- 

 ployed also for the treatment of stings inflicted by serpents, 

 fluxes, and suppurations. The leaves, acorns, and bark, as 

 well as a decoction prepared from them, are good as counter- 

 poisons. A decoction of the bark r boiled in cows' milk, is 

 used topically for stings inflicted by serpents, and is adminis- 

 tered in wine for dysentery. The holm-oak is possessed of 

 similar properties. 



CHAP. 4. (4.) THE KERMES-BERRY OF THE HOLM-OAK : THREE 



REMEDIES. 



The scarlet berry 27 of the holm-oak is applied to fresh 



are given by Dioscorides, B. i. c. 171, to the Egyptian bean or Nymphsea 

 Nelumbo of Linnaeus. Galen gives the same account as Dioscorides ; it 

 is not improbable, therefore, that Pliny is in error. 



23 See B. xvi. c. 53, Note 55. 



24 Half a denarius. See Introduction to Vol. III. 



25 Acorns, as well as the bark of the various kinds of oak, are of an 

 astringent nature. 25 * Or, hogs' lard. 



26 In the singular number, " cacoethes," " a bad habit ;" signifying a 

 malignant or cancerous tumour. 



27 See B. xvi. c. 12. All the properties here ascribed to it, Fee says, 



