226 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XXVII. 



of autumn that it is taken up and hung to dry. Used as a 

 purgative, it is bruised with the seed, and taken in the morn- 

 ing or just after the evening meal, in doses of two drachmae, 

 in hydromel, wine, or pure water, the draught amounting to 

 one sextarius in all. It carries off bile, and is particularly 

 good for sciatica ; but in this last case, caper root must be 

 taken with resin the day after, the dose being one drachma, 

 to be repeated every four days : after being purged, it is the 

 practice for the patient, if in robust health, to take wine, but 

 if in a weak state of body, water. It is employed topically, 

 also, for gout, burns, and wounds, as it tends to arrest the flow 

 of blood. 



CHAP. 11. AMBROSIA, BOTRYS, OR ARTEMISIA! THREE REMEDIES. 



Ambrosia is a vague name, which has fluctuated between 

 various plants : there is one, 49 however, which has been more 

 particularly designated by this appellation, a branchy, shrub- 

 like plant, with a thin stem, some three palms in height ; the 

 root of it is one third shorter, and the leaves, towards the lower 

 part of the stem, resemble those of rue. Its diminutive 

 branches bear a seed which hangs down in clusters, and has a 

 vinous smell : hence it is that by some persons the plant is 

 called " botrys," 50 while to others it is known as " artemisia." 

 The people of Cappadocia use it for garlands. It is employed 

 in medicine as a resolvent. 



CHAP. 12. THE AXONIS OR ONONIS ! FIVE REMEDIES. 



The anonis, 51 by some called " ononis" in preference, is a 

 branchy plant, and similar to fenugreek in appearance, except 

 that it is more shrub-like and more hairy. It has an agreeable 

 smell, and becomes prickly after spring. It is pickled in brine 

 for eating. Applied fresh to ulcers, it cauterizes the margins of 

 them. For the cure of tooth-ache, the root is boiled in oxy- 

 crate : taken in drink, with honey, the root expels urinary calculi. 

 For epilepsy, it is administered in oxyrnel, boiled down to one 

 half. 



CHAP. 13. THE ANAGYROS OR ACOPON I THREE REMEDIES. 



The anagyros, known to some by the name of " aco- 



19 Identified with the Ambrosia maritima of Linnaeus, the Sea ambrosia. 

 50 The "cluster" plant. It still figures in the Materia Medica. See 

 B. xxv. c. 36, and c. 31 of this Book. 51 See B. xxi. c. 58. 



