104 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTOBT. [Book XXV. 



tioned. If, however, the patient is suffering from fever, it 

 should be bruised and taken in water, wine being used in 

 other cases. A decoction of the root is equally useful for all 

 the same purposes. 



CHAP. 31. THE CENTATJRION LEPTON, OR LIBADION, KNOWN ALSO 



AS FEL TERR3J : TWENTY-TWO REMEDIES. 



There is another centaury also, with diminutive leaves, 

 known by the additional name of " lep ton." 32 By some per- 

 sons it is called "libadion," 33 from the circumstance that it 

 grows upon the borders of fountains. It is similar to origanum 

 in appearance, except that the leaves are narrower and longer. 

 The stem is angular, branchy, and a palm in height ; the flower 

 is like that of the lychnis, 34 and the root is thin, and never 

 used. It is in the juice that its medicinal properties are 

 centred: it being gathered in the autumn, and the juice extracted 

 from the leaves. Some persons cut up the stalks, and steep 

 them for some eighteen days in water, and then extract the 

 juice. 



In Italy this kind of centaury is known as "gall 55 of the 

 earth," from its extreme bitterness. The Gauls give it the 

 name of " exacum ;" 36 from the circumstance that, taken in 

 drink, it purges off all noxious substances by alvine evacuation. 



CHAP. 32. THE CENTAURIS TRIORCHIS : TWO REMEDIES. 



There is a third kind of centaury also, known as the 

 " centauris triorchis." 37 It is but rarely that a person cuts it 

 without wounding himself. The juice emitted is just the 

 colour of blood. 38 Theophrastus relates that this plant is under 



32 Or "small" centaury. Probably the Chironia centaureum of Smith, 

 Flor. Brit. , our Felwort. Littre names the Ery thraea centaureum of Persoon . 



33 From Xipades, " flowing streams." 



31 See B. xxi. cc. 10, 39, and 98, also c. 80 of this Book. 

 35 " Fel terrae." 



35 A word of Celtic origin, most probably, and not from the Greek, as 

 Pintianus supposes. 



37 Theophrastus, as stated by Pliny, in B. ix. c. 9, says that centaury is 

 protected by the "triorchis"' (see B. x. cc. 95, 96), and Pliny in trans- 

 lating the passage has made a mistake as to a third kind. Fee is probably 

 right in his conjecture that the Gentaurea centaureum is meant ; though 

 Brotier and Desfontaines look upon this as being a distinct plant, and 

 identify it with the Rumex sanguineus of Linnaeus. 



38 The root of the greater centaury, Fee remarks, is of a deep red wi thin. 



