256 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTOET. [Book XXVII. 



from a single root numerous hollowed stems, of a somewhat 

 reddish colour ; and bearing at the lower extremities swarthy, 

 narrow, oblong leaves, sharp on the back, arranged in pairs 

 at regular distances, and springing from delicate branches 

 attached with axils to the main stems. The flower is blue, 

 and the root, a finger in length, is provided with numerous 

 filaments like hairs. This plant possesses certain septic and ul- 

 cerating properties, and hence is used for the cure of fistula 

 of the eye. The Egyptians say that if upon the morning of 

 the twenty-eight day of their month Thoth, a day which gene- 

 rally falls in our month of August, a person rubs himself with 

 the juice of this plant before speaking to any one, he will be 

 sure to have no diseases of the eyes all that year. 



CHAP. 81. THE MYAGKOS : ONE KEMEDY. 



The myagros 31 is a ferulaceous plant, with leaves like those 

 of madder: the seed is of an oily nature indeed, an oil is 

 extracted from it. Ulcerations of the mouth are cured by 

 rubbing them with the juice of this plant. 



CHAP. 82. THE NYMA : ONE KEMEDY. 



The plant called " nyma" 32 bears three long leaves, like 

 those of endive : applied to scars, it restores the skin to its 

 natural colour. 



CHAP. 83. THENATKIX: ONE KEMEDY. 



" Matrix " 33 is the name of a plant, the root of which, when 

 taken out of the ground, has just the rank smell of the he-goat. 

 It is used in Picenum for the purpose of keeping away from 

 females what with a singular credulity they call by the name 

 of " Fatui." 34 For my own part, however, I should think that 



Linnaeus, Scorpion-grass, or mouse-ear, which is not of a corrosive nature, as 

 Pliny says, but emollient and soothing. Littre names the Asperugo pro- 

 cumbens of Linnaeus, Wild bugloss, German madwort, or great goose-grass. 



31 Sprengel identifies it with the Alyssum sativum, the Garden madwort ; 

 Fee with the Cameliria sativa of Crantz, the Cultivated cameline. Littre 

 gives the Neslia paniculata as its synonym. 



32 Or " Nigina," in some editions. It is utterly unknown. 



33 Possibly a fabulous plant ; though it is generally identified with the 

 Ononis natrix of Linnaeus. Poinsinet de Sivry derives its name from the 

 Celto-Germanic words, nat, "night," and ns, "wand;" a name given to it, 

 according to him, for its efficacy in dispelling the illusions of the night. 



34 Q r Fauni," the same as our nightmare. 



