Chap. 101.] THE APEOXIS. 63 



CHAP. 100. THE M1NSAS OR CORINTHIAI ONE REMEDY. 



Pythagoras gives the name of minsas 81 too, or corinthia, to 

 another plant ; a decoction of which, used as a fomentation, 

 will effect an instantaneous cure of stings inflicted by serpents, 

 according to him. He adds too, that if this decoction is poured 

 upon the grass, and a person happens to tread upon it, or if 

 the body should chance to be sprinkled with it, the result is 

 fatal beyond all remedy ; so monstrously malignant are the 

 venomous properties of this plant, except as neutralizing 

 other kinds of poison. 



CHAP 101. THE APROXIS: SIX REMEDIES. 



Pythagoras makes mention, too, of a plant called aproxis, 

 the root of which takes fire 82 at a distance, like naphtha, of 

 which we have made some mention, when speaking 83 of the mar- 

 vellous productions of the earth. He says too, that if the 

 human body happens to be attacked by any disease while the 

 cabbage 84 is in blossom, the person, although he may have 

 been perfectly cured, will be sensible of a recurrence of the 

 symptoms, every time that plant comes into blossom ; a 

 peculiarity which he attributes to it in common with wheat, 

 hemlock, and the violet. 



I am not ignorant, however, that the work of his from 

 which I have just quoted is ascribed to the physician Cleem- 

 porua by some, though antiquity and the unbroken current of 

 tradition concur in claiming it for Pythagoras. It is quite 

 enough, however, to say in favour of a book, that the author 

 has deemed the results of his labours worthy to be published 

 under the name of so great a man. And yet who can believe 

 that Cleemporus would do this, seeing that he has not 

 hesitated to publish other works under his own name ? 



81 The reading of this word is doubtful. Hardouin thinks that it is the 

 same as the Minyanthes mentioned in B. xxi. c. 88. 



62 Fee says that the only cases known of a phenomenon resembling 

 this, are those of the Dictamnus albus, white dittany, which attracts flame 

 momentarily when in flower, and of the Tropoeolum majus, or great Indian 

 cress. He thinks, however, that there are some trees so rich in essential 

 oil, that they might possibly ignite as readily as naphtha. 



In B. i'i. c. 109. 



84 Another reading here is " aproxis," which seems more probable. 



