100 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [BooTc XXV. 



the various colours which the matter vomited presents : besides 

 which, after the vomiting has subsided, the physician has to 

 pay the greatest attention to the nature of the alvine evacu- 

 ations, the due and proper use of the bath, and the general 

 regimen adopted by the patient ; all of them inconveniences 

 in themselves, and preceded by the terrors naturally inspired 

 by the character of the drug ; for one story is, that it has the 

 property of consuming flesh, if boiled with it. 



The great error, 16 however, on the part of the ancients was, 

 that in consequence of these fears, they used to give it too 

 sparingly, the fact being, that the larger the dose, the more 

 speedily it passes through the body. Themison used to give 

 no more than two drachmae, but at a later period as much as 

 four drachmae was administered ; in conformity with the cele- 

 brated eulogium passed upon it by Herophilus, 17 who was in 

 the habit of comparing hellebore to a valiant general, and 

 saying, that after it has set in motion all within, it is the 

 first to sally forth and show the way. In addition to these 

 particulars, there has been a singular discovery made : the 

 hellebore which, as we have already stated, has been cut with 

 a small pair of scissors, 18 is passed through a sieve, upon which 

 the pith makes its way through, while the outer coat remains 

 behind. The latter acts as a purgative, while the former is 

 used for the purpose of arresting vomiting when that evacuation 

 is in excess. 



CHAP. 24. EIGHTY-EIGHT OBSERVATIONS UPON THE TWO KINDS 



OF HELLEBORE. 



In order to secure a beneficial result, due precautions must 

 be taken not to administer hellebore in cloudy weather ; for if 

 given at such a time, it is sure to be productive of excruciating 

 agonies. Indeed there is no doubt that summer is a better 

 time for giving it than winter : the body too, by an abstinence 

 from wine, must be prepared for it seven days previously, 

 emetics being taken on the fourth and third days before, and 



1(5 Fee remarks, that they showed their wisdom in this. 



17 Herophilus, it must be remembered, lived a considerable time before 

 Themison. 



js 4< Porficulis." He probably refers to c. 21, where, however, he has 

 mentioned only a needle " acus." It is possibly a lapsus memoria oil 

 his part. 



