Chap. 86.] THE ONOSMA. 2.57 



persons requiring to be treated with such medicaments as 

 these, must be labouring under a sort of mental hallucination. 



CHAP. 84. ODONTITIS : ONE REMEDY. 



Odontitis 35 is a sort of hay-grass, 36 which throws out from a 

 single root numerous, small, jointed stems, of a triangular form 

 and of a swarthy hue. At the joints there are small leaves, 

 somewhat longer than those of the polygonos ; 37 and in the 

 axils formed by these leaves is the seed, similar to barley in 

 appearance. It has a purple, diminutive flower, and is found 

 growing in meadows. 38 A handful of the stems, boiled in 

 astringent wine, is used for the cure of tooth-ache, 39 the de- 

 coction being retained for some time in the mouth. 



CHAP. 85. THE OTHONNA I ONE EEMEDY. 



The othonna 40 is a Syrian plant, resembling rocket in ap- 

 pearance ; its leaves are pierced with numerous holes, and its 

 flower resembles that of saffron, for which reason some persons 

 have given it the name of " anemone." The juice of thjte 

 plant is employed in ophthalmic preparations ; it is slightly 

 pungent, of a warming nature, and astringent as it dries. It 

 acts as a detergent upon cicatrizations, films on the eyes, and 

 all impediments of the sight. Some say that the plant is 

 washed and dried, and then divided into lozenges. 



CHAP. 86. THE ONOSMA : ONE PROPERTY. 



The onosma 41 has leaves some four fingers in length, lying 

 upon the ground, and indented like those of the anchusa : 42 it 

 has neither 43 stem, blossom, nor seed. A pregnant woman, they 

 say, if she eats of this plant, or even walks over it, will be sure 

 to miscarry. 



35 Probably the Euphrasia odontites of Linnaeus, the Red eye-bright. 



36 " Inter feni genera." 



37 See c. 91 of this Book. There is no resemblance between them. 



38 On the contrary, it grows in arid, sterile spots. 



39 Hence its name " odontitis," " tooth-wort." 



40 Its synonym is unknown. Sprengel has identified it with the Tagetis 

 patula of Linnaeus, but that is purely an American plant ! 



41 Probably one of the Borragineae, Fee thinks, but beyond that he 

 considers it impossible to say. Desfontaines identifies it with the Onosma 

 echioides of Linnaeus, the Hairy onosma. 



42 See B. xxii. c. 23. 



48 If it is the plant above-mentioned, this is incorrect. 

 VOL. V. S 



