Chap. 66.] P1ITCOS THALASSEON. 193 



bristling with a greater number of leaves, covered with rugo- 

 sities, full of a more acrid juice, and possessed of a powerful 

 smell. The kind that resembles anagallis most closely, is 

 known as mollugo. 31 Asperugo 32 is a similar plant, only with 

 a more prickly leaf. The juice of the first is taken daily, in 

 doses of one denarius, in two cyathi of wine. 



CHAP. 66. PHYCOS THALASSION OK SEA- WEED I THREE VARIETIES 



OF IT. LAPPA BOARIA. 



But it is the phycos thalassion, or sea-weed, 33 more particu- 

 larly, that is so excellent a remedy for the gout. It resembles 

 the lettuce in appearance, and is used as the basis in dyeing 

 tissues with the purple of the murex. 34 Used before it be- 

 comes dry, it is efficacious as a topical application not only 

 for gout, but for all diseases of the joints. There are three 

 kinds of it ; one with a broad leaf, another with a longer leaf 

 of a reddish hue, and a third with a crisped leaf, and used in 

 Crete for dyeing cloths. 35 All these kinds have similar pro- 

 perties ; and we find Nicander prescribing them in wine as an 

 antidote to the venom of serpents even. The seed also of the 

 plant which we have spoken of as " psyllion," 36 is useful for 

 the cure of gout : it is first steeped in water, and one hemina of 

 the seed is then mixed with two spoonfuls of resin of Colophon, 

 and one spoonful of frankincense. Leaves of mandragora, 37 

 too, are highly esteemed for this purpose, beaten up with 

 polenta. 



(11.) For swellings of the ankles, slime, 38 kneaded up with 

 oil, is wonderfully useful, and for swellings of the joints the 

 juice of the smaller centaury ; this last being remarkably good 

 also for diseases of the sinews. Centauris, 39 too, is very useful ; 

 and for pains in the sinews of the shoulder-blades, shoulders, 



31 Identified with the Galium mollugo of Linnaeus, Great ladies' bed- 

 straw, or Wild bastard madder. 



32 The Asperugo procumbens of Linnaeus has been named, but Fee re- 

 marks that from its resemblance to Mollugo, the plant must be sought 

 among the Rubiaceae, and not among the Borragineae. 



33 <* Fucus marinus." See B. xiii. c. 48. 



34 " Qui conchyliis substernitur." See Beckmann's Hist. Inv. Vol. I. 

 p. 36, Bohn's Ed. 



35 What Fucus or Laminaria this may have been is now unknown. 

 86 See B. xxv. c. 90. 37 See B. xxv. c. 94. 



38 " Limus aquaticus." 39 See B. xxv. c. 32, 



VOL. V. O 



