52 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTOET. [Book XXIV. 



CHAP. 78. SARCOCOLLA: TWO REMEDIES. 

 Some authors are of opinion that sarcocolla 23 is a tearlike 

 gum which exudes from a kind of thorn ; 23 it is similar to 

 powdered incense in appearance, has a sweet flavour with a 

 slight degree of bitter, and is of the consistency of gum. 

 Pounded in wine, it arrests defluxions, and is used as a topical 

 application for infants more particularly. This substance too 

 becomes black 24 when old ; the whiter it is, the more highly 

 it is esteemed. 



CHAP. 79. OPORICE I TWO REMEDIES. 



We are indebted too to the medicinal properties of trees 

 for one very celebrated medicament, known as " oporice." 25 

 This preparation is used for dysentery and various affections of 

 the stomach ; the following being the method of preparing it. 

 Five quinces, seeds and all, with the same number of pome- 

 granates, one sextarius of sorbs, a similar quantity of Syrian 

 rhus, 26 and half an ounce of saifron, are boiled in one congius 

 of white grape-juice at a slow heat, till the whole mixture is 

 reduced to the consistency of honey. 



CHAP. 80. THE TRIXAGO, CHAM^EDRYS, CHAM^DROPS, OR 



TETJCRIA I SIXTEEN REMEDIES. 



We shall now add to these plants, certain vegetable produc- 

 tions to which the Greeks have given names belonging to trees, 

 so that it would be doubtful whether they themselves are not 

 trees as well. 



(15.) The chamsedrys 27 is the same plant that in Latin is 

 called "trixago;" some persons, however, call it "chamse- 

 drops," and others " teucria." The leaves of it are the size 



22 See B. xiii. c. 20. 



23 The Pensea sarcocolla is not a thorny tree. 



24 Fee says that this is not the case. It is no longer used in medicine. 



25 Or conserve of fruits. An electuary. 



26 Seed of the sumach. See B. xiii. c. 13. 



27 " Ground oak." See B. xiv. c. 19 ; where it is identified with the 

 Teucrium chamsedrys of Linnaeus. Littre, however, informs us, that M. 

 Fraas considers it to be the Teucrium lucidum of Linnaeus ; because, as we 

 learn from Bioscorides, it grows on rocky places, is a remarkably diminutive 

 shrub, and has a fine odour, all of which are characteristics of the latter 

 plant, and not of the Teucrium chaniiedrys, commonly known as the dwarf 

 oak or germander. 



