38 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XXIV. 



CHAP. 54. THE RHUS OK SUMACH-TREE ; TWO VARIETIES OF IT : 



EIGHT REMEDIES. STOMATICE. 



^or yet has the tree called "rhus" 26 any Latin name, al- 

 though it is employed in numerous ways. Under this name 

 are comprehended a wild plant, 27 with leaves like those of 

 myrtle, and a short stem, which is good as an expellent of 

 tapeworm ; and the shrub 28 which is known as the " currier's 

 plant," of a reddish colour, a cuhit in height, and about the 

 thickness of one's finger, the leaves of which are dried and 

 used, like pomegranate rind, for curing leather. 



Medical men also employ the leaves of these plants for the 

 treatment of contusions, and for the cure of cosliac affections, 

 and of ulcers of the rectum and phagedaenic sores ; for all which 

 purposes they are pounded with honey and applied with 

 vinegar. A decoction of them is injected for suppurations of 

 the ears. With the branches, boiled, a stomatice 29 is also made, 

 which is used for the eame purposes as that prepared from 

 mulberries ; 3U it is more efficacious, however, mixed with alum. 

 This preparation is applied also toreducethe swelling in dropsy. 



CHAP. 55. RHTJS ERYTHROS: NINE REMEDIES. 



"Rhus 31 erythros is the name given to the seed of this shrub. 

 It possesses properties of an astringent and cooling nature, and 

 is used as a seasoning 32 for provisions, in place of salt. It has 

 a laxative effect, and, used in conjunction with silphium, it 

 gives a finer flavour to meat of all kinds. Mixed with honey, 

 it is curative of running ulcers, pimples on the tongue, 33 con- 

 tusions, bruises, and excoriations. It causes ulcers of the 

 head to cicatrize with the greatest rapidity ; and taken with 

 the food, it arrests excessive menstruation. 



CHAP. 56. THE ERYTHHODANUS ! ELEVEN REMEDIES. 



The erythrodanus, 34 by some called " ereuthodanus," and 



26 See B xiii. c. 13. The sumach-tree ; the Rhus coriaria of Linnams. 

 r Identified by Fee with the Coriaria myrtifolia of Linnaeus, or myrtle- 

 leaved sumach. It is used in the preparation of leather, Fee says, and is 

 intensely poisonous. 28 The sumach-tree. 



29 Or < mouth-medicine." See B. xxii. c. 11, and B. xxiii. cc. 58 and 71. 



30 See B. xxiii. c. 71. 31 Or " ros." See B. xiii. c. 13, 

 12 Fee says that this is still done in some parts of Turkey. 



w Asperitati linguae." 



^ u Bed rose ;" our madder. See B. xix. c. 17. Beckmann is of 



