60 PLINY'S NATTTBAL HISTORY. [Book XXIV. 



CHAP. 93. THE DRACTJNCULUS ; TWO REMEDIES. 



The plant which I have spoken of 65 as the dracunculus, is 

 taken out of the ground just when the barley is ripening, and 

 at the moon's increase. It is quite sufficient to have this 

 plant about one, to be safe from all serpents ; and it is said, 

 that an infusion of the larger kind taken in drink, is very useful 

 for persons who have been stung by those reptiles : it is stated 

 also that it arrests the catamenia when in excess, due care being 

 taken not to let iron touch it. The juice of it too is very use- 

 ful for pains in the ears. 



As to the plant known to the Greeks by the name of " dra- 

 contion," I have 66 had it pointed out to me under three dif- 

 ferent forms ; the first 67 having the leaves of the beet, with a 

 certain proportion of stem, and a purple flower, and bearing 

 a strong resemblance to the aron. Other persons, again, have 

 described it as a plant 69 with a long root, embossed to all ap- 

 pearance and full of knots, and consisting of three stems in all ; 

 the same parties have recommended a decoction of the leaves 

 in vinegar, as curative of stings inflicted by serpents. The 

 third 70 plant that has been pointed out to me has a leaf larger 

 than that of the cornel, and a root resembling that of the reed. 

 This root, I have been assured, has as many knots on it as the 

 plant is years old, the leaves, too, being as many in number. 

 The plant is recommended also for the stings of serpents, 

 administered either in wine or in water. 



CHAP. 94. THE ARISAROS : THEEE REMEDIES. 



There is a plant also called the " arisaros," 71 which grows 

 in Egypt, and is similar to the aron in appearance, only that 

 it is more diminutive, and has smaller leaves ; the root too is 

 smaller, though fully as large as a good- sized olive. The 

 white arisaros throws out two stems, the other kind only one. 

 They are curative, both of them, of running ulcers and burns, 

 and are used as an injection for fistulas. The leaves, boiled in 



65 In c. 91 of this Book. This story is owing merely to its appearance, 

 which somewhat resembles the skin of a serpent. 



66 " Demonstratum mini est." 



67 Identified by Fee with the Aram Italicum of Lamarck. 



69 Fee queries whether this may not be the Arum maculatum of Linnaeus, 

 wake-robin, cuckoo pint, or lords and ladies. 



10 Identified by 0. Bauhin with the Calla palustris of LinnaBUs. 



n The Arum arisarum of Linnaeus, hooded arum or friar's cowl, a 

 native of the coasts of Barbary and the South of Europe. 



