Chap. 35.] THE CATANANCE. 237 



the lettuce, of a wrinkled, pursed appearance, and destitute of 

 stem, the leaves arising from a single root : it grows upon 

 rocks more particularly, and shells sunk in the sand. It has 

 desiccative 12 and astringent qualities in a very high degree, 

 properties which render it useful for reducing all kinds of 

 abscesses and inflammations, those attendant upon gout in 

 particular. It is good also for all affections which stand in 

 need of cooling applications. 



CHAP. 34. THE BUPLEURON I ONE REMEDY. 



I find it stated that seed of bupleuron 13 is given for injuries 

 inflicted by serpents ; and that the wound is fomented with 

 a decoction of the plant, in combination with leaves of the 

 mulberry or of origanum. 14 



CHAP. 35. THE CATANANCE ; ONE OBSERVATION UPON IT. THE 

 CEMOS *. ONE OBSERVATION UPON IT. 



The catanance 15 is a Thessalian plant, which it would be 

 a mere loss of time to describe, seeing that it is only used as 

 an ingredient in philtres. In order, however, to expose the 

 follies of the magical art, it may not be out of place to remark 

 that this plant has been selected for the above-named purpose, 

 from the fact that, as it withers, it gradually contracts and 

 assumes the shape of the claws of a dead kite. 16 



For a similar reason we shall give no description of the 

 plant called " cemos." 17 



phrastus, Hist. iv. 7, that it was a name for sea- weed in general, and not 

 a specific plant. 



1 - In reality, it is destitute of medicinal properties. Some kinds of laver 

 are considered a dainty food. 



13 See B. xxii. c. 35. u See B. xx. c. 67. 



15 Dioscorides speaks of two kinds of Catanance ; one of which has 

 heen identified hy Sprengel with the Ornithopus compressus of Linnaeus, 

 and the other with the Astragalus pugniformis. Fee expresses his doubts 

 as to the correctness of these conclusions. 



16 " As if it would catch women, and hold them fast perforce." Holland. 

 It has been suggested that the Coronopus, or " crow's foot," mentioned 

 in B. xxi. c. 59^ was so called for a similar reason. 



17 Prosper Alpinus identifies it with the Plantago Cretica of X*inna3us, 

 and Sprengel with the Micropus erectus of Linnaeus. Fee considers it to 

 be the Gnaphalium leontopodium of Lamarck. 



