164 PLINY'S HATUBAL HISTOEY. [Book XXVI. 



CHAP. 16. BECHION, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AECION, 

 LETJCE OE TUSSILAGO I THEEE EEMEDIES. 



Bechion 70 is known also as tussilago : there are two kinds 

 of it. "Wherever it is found growing wild, it is generally 

 thought that there is a spring of water below, and it is looked 

 upon as a sure sign that such is the ease, by persons in search 71 

 of water. The leaves are somewhat larger than those of 

 ivy, and are some five or seven in number, of a whitish hue 

 beneath, and a pale green on the upper surface, The plant is 

 destitute of stem, blossom, and seed, and the root is very 

 diminutive. Some persons are of opinion that this bechion is 

 identical with the arcion, known also as the " chamaeleuce." 72 

 The smoke 73 of this plant in a dry state, inhaled by the aid 

 of a reed and swallowed, is curative, they say, of chronic 

 cough ; it is necessary, however, at each inhalation to take a 

 draught of raisin wine. 



CHAP. 1 7. - THE BECHION, KNOWN ALSO AS SAL VIA I FOTJE 

 EEMEDIES. 



There is another bechion 74 also, known to some persons as 

 " sal via," 75 and bearing a strong resemblance to verbascum. 

 This plant is triturated, and the juice strained off and taken 

 warm for cough and for pains in the side : it is considered 

 very beneficial also for the stings of scorpions and sea- 

 dragons. 76 It is a good plan, too, to rub the body with this 

 juice, mixed with oil, as a preservative against the stings of 

 serpents. A bunch of hyssop is sometimes boiled down with 

 a quarter of a pound of honey, for the cure of cough. 



CHAP. 18. (7.) - AFFECTIONS OF THE SIDE, CHEST, AND STOMACH. 



For the cure of pains in the side and chest, verbascum 77 is 

 used in water, with rue ; powdered betony is also taken in 

 warm water. Juice of scordotis 78 is used as a stomachic, 



70 See B. xxiv. c. 85. 



71 " Aquileges." 72 See B. xxiv. c. 85. 



73 Dried bechion, o* coltsfoot, is still smoked by some persons for 

 affections of the chest. 



74 Generally identified with the Phlomos, or Verhascum lychnitis men- 

 tioned in B. xxv. c. 74. 75 " Sage." See B. xxv. c, 73. 



76 See B. ix. c. 43, and B. xxxil c. 53. 



T 7 See B. xxv. c. 73. 78 See B. xx. c. 27. 



