252 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XXVII. 



the summit of the stem, it bears small heads full of a seed like 

 that of melanthium. 4 These heads, taken with honey or 

 hydromel, are good for cough and other affections of the chest; 

 they are extremely useful also for liver complaints. 



CHAP. 71. THE LATHTRIS: TWO REMEDIES. 



The lathyris 5 has numerous leaves like those of the lettuce, 6 

 with numbers of small buds, in which the seed is contained, 

 enclosed in envelopes like that of the caper. When these buds 

 are dry, the seeds, about the size of a peppercorn, are taken out : 

 they are white, sweet, and easily cleansed from the husk. 

 Twenty of them, taken in pure water or in hydromel, are 

 curative of dropsy, and carry off bile. Persons who require a 

 stronger purgative, take them with the husks on. They are 

 apt, however, to be injurious to the stomach ; for which reason 

 a plan has been adopted of taking them with fish or else 

 chicken broth. 



CHAP. 72. THE LEONTOPETALON OR PARDALION : TWO REMEDIES. 



The leontopetalon 7 is called " pardalion" by some : it has a 

 leaf like that of the cabbage, and a stem half a foot in height, 

 with numerous lateral branches, and a seed at the extremities 

 of them, enclosed in pods like those of the chick-pea. The root 

 resembles that of rape, and is large and black : it grows in 

 plough lands. The root, taken in wine, neutralizes the venom 

 of all kinds of serpents ; indeed, there is nothing known that 

 is more speedily efficacious for that purpose. It is given also 

 for sciatica. 



CHAP. 73. THE LYCAPSOS I TWO REMEDIES. 



The lycapsos 8 has longer and thicker leaves than those of 

 the lettuce, 9 and a long, hairy stem, with numerous offshoots a 



4 Or Gith. See B. xx. c. 71. 



5 The Euphorbia lathyris of Linnaeus, the Caper plant, or Caper spurge. 



6 There is no such resemblance, except that they both contain a milky 

 juice, the properties of which are, however, very different. It is a plant 

 of an energetic and even dangerous nature, and must never be mistaken 

 for the real caper. 



7 Mostly thought to be the same plant as the Leontopodium of B. xxvi. c. 

 34. Littre, however, identifies it with the Evax pygmaeus of Linneeus. 



8 Probably the Echium Italicum of Linnsus, Italian viper's tongue. 



9 There is no resemblance between the Echium and the lettuce. 



