G2 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTOKT. [Book XXIV. 



bears a strong resemblance to hemlock in the stem, leaves, and 

 blossom, only that it is smaller and more slender : it is by no 

 means unpleasant to the palate. Taken with wine, it acts as 

 an emmenagogue, and facilitates parturition : they say too that 

 in times of pestilence it is very wholesome, taken in drink. It 

 is very useful also for phthisis, administered in broth. It 

 sharpens the appetite, and neutralizes the venom of the pha- 

 langium. The juice of this plant, after it has been macerated 

 some three days in water, is curative of ulcers of the face and 

 head. 



CHAP. 98. THE ONOBBYCHIS : THKEE REMEDIES. 



The onobrychis 77 has leaves like those of the lentil, only 

 somewhat 78 longer ; the blossom is red, and the root small and 

 slender. It is found growing in the vicinity of springs. 

 Dried and reduced to powder, and sprinkled in white wine, 

 it is curative of strangury, and arrests looseness of the 

 bowels. The juice of it, used as a friction with oil, acts as a 

 sudorific. 



CHAP. 99. (17.) CORACESTA AND CALLICIA. 



While I am treating of plants of a marvellous nature, I am 

 induced to make some mention of certain magical plants for 

 what, in fact, can there be more marvellous than they r The first 

 who descanted upon this subject in our part of the world were 

 Pythagoras and Democritus, who have adopted the accounts 

 given by the Magi. Coracesta 79 and callicia, according to 

 Pythagoras, are plants which congeal 80 water. I find no 

 mention made of them, however, by any other author, and he 

 himself gives no further particulars relative to them. 



douin says that it is musk chervil, the Chserophyllum aromaticum of Lin- 

 naeus, in which he has followed Dodonaeus. Fuchsius suggests the Chsero- 

 phyllum silvestre of Linnaeus : Fee expresses himself at a loss to decide. 



77 Probably the Hedysarum onobrycliis of Linnasus, our sainfoin. 



78 They are very much larger than those of the lentil, in fact. This 

 diversity has caused Fee to express some doubts whether it really is iden- 

 tical with sainfoin. The Polygala officinalis has also been suggested. 



79 Dalechamps considers these appellations to mean the " virgins' plant," 

 and the "plant of beauty." 



80 The Cissampelos Pareira, as already stated, abounds in mucilage to 

 such a degree, as to impart a consistency to water, without impairing its 

 transparency. See c, 72 of this Book. 



