Chap. 53.] DICTAMNON. 115 



another plant. When stung by a serpent, it cures itself, they 

 say, by eating a certain herb, taking care, however, never to 

 gather it in presence of man. 



CHAP. 52. THE ELAPHOBOSCOX. 



The hind, with a much greater degree of frankness, has dis- 

 covered to us the elaphoboscon, a plant of which we have 

 already 7 spoken, and which is also called " helxine," 8 from the 

 assistance it affords those animals in yeaning. 



CHAP. 53. DICTAMNON I EIGHT REMEDIES. PSETJDODICTAMNON 



OR CHONDRI8. IN WHAT PLACES THE MOST POWERFUL PLANTS 

 ARE FOUND. HOW THAT MILK 16 DRUNK IN ARCADIA FOR THE 

 BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF THE PLANTS UPON WHICH THE CATTLE 

 FEED. 



It is the hind, too, that, as already 9 stated, first made us ac- 

 quainted with dictamnon, 10 or dittany ; for when wounded, it 

 eats some of this plant, and the weapon immediately falls from 

 the body. This plant grows nowhere 11 but in Crete. The 

 branches of it are remarkably thin ; it resembles pennyroyal 

 in appearance, and is hot and acrid to the taste. The leaves 

 are the only part employed, it being destitute of 12 blossom, 

 seed, and stem : the root is thin, and never used. In Crete 

 even, it is found growing only in a very limited locality, and 

 is sought by goats with singular avidity. 



In place of it, the pseudodictamnum 13 is employed, a plant 

 that is found growing in many countries. In leaf it is similar 

 to the other, but the branches are more diminutive : by some 

 persons it is known as " chondris." Its properties not being 

 so strongly developed, the difference is immediately recognized : 

 for an infusion of the very smallest piece of the real dittany, 



7 In B. xxii. c. 37. 



8 From the Greek e'Xicw, " to draw." 



9 In B. viii. c. 41. 



10 The Origanum dictamnus of Linnaeus, Dittany of Candia. 



11 This is an error : it grows, and doubtless did in Pliny's time, in 

 numerous other places ; but that of Mount Ida in Crete was held in the 

 highest esteem. 



12 It has all three, in fact ; as Fee says, it is evident that Pliny never 

 saw it. Its medicinal properties are no longer held in any esteem. 



13 " False-dittany." It is generally identified with the Marrubium 

 pseudodictamnus of Linnaeus, the Shrubby white horehound ; though per- 

 haps on insufficient grounds. 



I 2 



