Chap. 15.] APABHTE. 227 



pon," 52 is a shrub-like plant, with an offensive smell, and a 

 blossom like that of the cabbage. The seed grows in small 

 hornlike pods of considerable length, and resembles a kidney 

 in shape ; it hardens about the time of harvest. The leaves of 

 this plant are applied to gatherings, and are attached to the 

 person in cases of difficult parturition, care being taken to 

 remove them the moment after delivery. In cases where the 

 extraction of the dead foetus is attended with difficulty, or where 

 the after-birth or catamenia are retarded, the leaves are taken, in 

 doses of one drachma, in raisin wine. The leaves are adminis- 

 tered in the same manner for asthma : they are prescribed also 

 in old wine, for injuries inflicted by the phalangium. 63 The 

 root is employed medicinally as a resolvent and maturative : 

 the seed, chewed, acts as an emetic. 



CHAP. 14. THE ANONTMOS : TWO REMEDIES. 



The anonymos, 54 through not having a name, has at last 

 found one. 65 It is brought from Scythia, and has been highly 

 extolled by Hicesius, a physician of no small repute, as also 

 by Aristogiton. Eruisedin water and applied, it is remarkably 

 useful for wounds, and taken in drink it is good for blows upon 

 the chest or mamillae, as also for spitting of blood : it has 

 been thought, too, that it might be advantageously taken in a 

 potion for wounds. I am of opinion that the additional state- 

 ment, to the effect that, burnt fresh, it acts as a solder to iron 

 or copper, is wholly fabulous. 



CHAP. 15. (5.) APARINE, OMPHALOCARPOS, OK PHILANTHROPOS I 

 THREE REMEDIES. 



Aparine, 56 otherwise called " omphalocarpos" 57 or " philan- 

 thropes, JJ58 is a ramose, hairy, plant, with five or six leaves at 

 regular intervals, arranged circularly around the branches. 



52 " Dispelling lassitude." Identified with the Anagyris fcetida of Lin- 

 naeus, the Stinking bean trefoil. It is a purgative, and its seeds are emetic. 



93 See B. viii. c. 41, B. x. c. 95, B. xi. cc. 24, 23. 



5i It has not been identified, Pliny being the only author that has men- 

 tioned it. The Ajuga pyraraidalis of Linnaeus, and the Ajuga iva have 

 been suggested. 55 "Anonymos," or "nameless." 



56 See B. xviii. c. 44, and B. xxiv. c. 116. It is identified with the Galium 

 Aparine of Linna3us, Ladies* bedstraw, Cleavers, goosegrass, hariff, or 

 catchweed. Its medicinal properties are next to nothing. 



57 "Navel-fruit." Man-loving. " See B. xxiv. c. 116. 



