58 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTOET. [Book XXIV. 



reddish root of a serpentine form, to which, in fact, it owes its 

 name. 66 



CHAP. 92. THE AEON I THIRTEEN REMEDIES. 



The Greeks themselves, in fact, have established an im- 

 mense difference between these two plants, in attributing to 

 the seed of the dracunculus certain hot, pungent properties, 

 and a fetid odour 57 so remarkably powerful as to be productive 

 of abortion, 58 while upon the aron, on the other hand, they 

 have bestowed marvellous encomiums. As an article of food, 

 however, they give the preference to the female plant, the 

 male plant being of a harder nature, and more difficult to cook. 

 It carries off, 69 they say, all vicious humours from the chest, 

 and powdered and taken in the form either of a potion or of 

 an electuary, it acts as a diuretic and emmenagogue. Powdered 

 and taken in oxymel, it is good for the stomach ; and we find 

 it stated that it is administered in ewe's milk for ulcerations 

 of the intestines, and is sometimes cooked on hot ashes and 

 given in oil for a cough. Some persons, again, are in the habit 

 of boiling it in milk and administering the decoction ; and it 

 has been used also in a boiled state as a topical application for 

 defluxions of the eyes, contusions, and affections of the tonsil- 

 lary glands. * * * * 60 prescribes it with oil, as an 

 injection for piles, and recommends it as a liniment, with 

 honey, for freckles. 



Cleophantus has greatly extolled this plant as an antidote for 

 poisons, and for the treatment of pleurisy and peripneumony, 

 prepared the same way as for coughs. The seed too, pounded 

 with olive oil or oil of roses, is used as an injection for pains 



56 From " draco," a " dragon " or " serpent." Fee says, that it is not 

 to its roots, but to its spotted stem, resembling the skin of an adder, that 

 it owes its name. 



57 * Virus." Fee says that the Arum dracunculus has a strong, fetid 

 odour, and all parts of it are acrid and caustic, while the Arum colocasia 

 has an agreeable flavour when boiled. 



58 This, Fee says, is fabulous. 



59 Though no longer used in medicine, the account here given of the 

 properties of the Arum colocasia is in general correct, a few marvellous 

 details excepted. 



60 Sillig thinks that there is a lacuna here, and that the name " Cleo- 

 phantus " should be supplied. 



