Chap. 50.] THE ELATIKE. 243 



are small heads covered with prickles : it grows in watery 

 localities. 



This plant is used for the cure of chaps of the fundament 

 and of fistula ; in which latter case the root is boiled down in 

 wine to the consistency of wax, to allow of its being introduced 

 into the fistula in the form of a salve. 61 It is employed, too, 

 for the cure of all kinds of warts : as a liniment for which, 

 the juice collected in the axils, as above mentioned, is also used 

 by some. 



CHAP. 48. THE DRYOPTERIS : TWO REMEDIES. 



The dryopteris, 52 which resembles fern in appearance, is 

 found growing upon trees ; the leaves are of a somewhat sweet- 

 ish 53 flavour and marked with slight indentations, and the 

 root is hairy. This plant is possessed of caustic properties, 54 

 and hence the root is pounded and used as a depilatory. In 

 using it the skin is rubbed with it till perspiration is excited, 

 the operation being repeated a second and a third time, care 

 being taken not to remove the perspiration. 



CHAP. 49. THE DRYOPHONON. 



The dryophonon 55 is a similar plant, with thin stems a cubit 

 in length, and surrounded on either side with leaves about as 

 large as the thumb and like those of the oxymyrsine 56 in ap- 

 pearance, only whiter and softer : the blossom is white, and 

 similar to that of the elder. The shoots of it are eaten boiled, 

 and the seed is used as a substitute for pepper. 



CHAP. 50. THE ELATIKE I TWO REMEDIES. 



The elatine 57 has leaves like those of the helxine, 68 diminu- 



51 "Collyrii." 



52 The same plant, prohably, as the Polypodion of B. xxvi. c. 37. Littre, 

 however, identifies it with the Asplenium adiantum nigrum of Linnaeus, the 

 Black maiden-hair, or spleenwort. 



63 It is the root that is sweet, and not the leaves. 



54 It has no such properties. 



55 The " oak-killer." Fee thinks that it may possibly be the Conval- 

 laria uniilora of Linnaeus. Desfontaines names the Cochlearia draba, and 

 Littre the Lepidium draba of Linnaeus. 



56 See B. xv. cc. 7, 37, and B. xxiii, c. 83. 



67 Desfontaines and Fee identify it with the Antirrhinum spuriura of 

 Linnaeus, Bastard toad-flax, calves' snout, or snapdragon. Littre gives 

 the Linaria Groeea as its synonym. 58 See B. xxii. c. 19. 



B 2 



