44 PLINY'S NATUKAL HISTORY. [Book XXIV. 



thorns of Egypt, and from a green thorn as well ; the pro- 

 duce, however, of the former trees is by far the best. There is 

 also a similar gum found in Galatia, but of very inferior 

 quality, the produce of a more thorny tree 63 than those last 

 mentioned. The seed of all these trees resembles 64 the lentil 

 in appearance, only that it is smaller, as well as the pod which 

 contains it : it is gathered in autumn, before which period it 

 would be too powerful in its effects. The juice is left to 

 thicken in the pods, which are steeped in rain-water for the 

 purpose, and then pounded in a mortar ; after which, the 

 juice is extracted by means of presses. It is then dried in the 

 mortars in the sun, and when dry is divided into tablets. A 

 similar juice is extracted from the leaves, but it is by no 

 means 65 so useful as the other. The seed is used also, as a 

 substitute for nut-galls in curing leather. 6 " 



The juice extracted from the leaves, as also tiie extremely 

 black juice of the Galatian 67 acacia, is held in no esteem. The 

 same too with that of a deep red colour. The gum which is 

 of a purple, or of an ashy, grey colour, and which dissolves 

 with the greatest rapidity, possesses the most astringent and 

 cooling qualities of them all, and is more particularly useful as 

 an ingredient in compositions for the eyes. "When required 

 for these purposes, the tablets are steeped in water by some, 

 while some again scorch them, and others reduce them to 

 ashes. They are useful for dyeing the hair, and for the cure of 

 erysipelas, serpiginous sores, ulcerations of the humid parts of 

 the body, gatherings, contusions of the joints, chilblains, and 

 hangnails. They are good also for cases of excessive menstru- 

 ation, procidence of the uterus and rectum, affections of the 

 eyes, and ulcerations of the generative organs 68 and mouth, 

 naeus, the white hawthorn, or May. In the present passage, however, it 

 is doubtful whether the colours apply to the varieties of gum, or to the trees 

 which produce them. Sillig considers the passage to he corrupt. 



63 The Prunus spinosa of Linnaeus, Fe thinks, the sloe, or black thorn. 



64 Fee says that the difference in appearance is very considerable between 

 them. 



65 The leaves containing little or no tannin. 



66 In India, the bark of the Acacia Arabica is still used for tanning 

 leather. 



67 This juice, Fee says, obtained from the Primus spinosa, is known at 

 the present day in commerce by the name of Acacia nostras. 



68 Fee queries, without sufficient foundation, it would appear, whether 

 he is here speaking of syphilitic affections. 



