ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IX. vm. 4-6 



it is only given to dogs when it is desired to purge 

 them. And in certain other plants also such 

 differences are mentioned. 



Further we may l add statements made by druggists 

 and herb-diggers, which in some cases may be to 

 the point, but in others contain exaggeration. Thus 

 they enjoin that in cutting some roots one should 

 stand to windward, for instance, in cutting thapsia 

 among others, and that one should first anoint 

 oneself with oil, 2 for that one's body will swell up 

 if one stands the other way. Also that the fruit 

 of the wild rose must be gathered standing to wind- 

 ward, since otherwise there is danger to the eyes. 

 Also that some roots should be gathered at night, 

 others by day, and some before the sun strikes 

 on them, for instance those of the plant called 

 honeysuckle. 3 



These and similar remarks may well seem to be 

 not off the point, for the properties of these plants 

 are hurtful ; they take hold, it is said, like fire and 

 burn ; 4 for hellebore too soon makes the head heavy, 

 and men cannot go on digging it up for long ; where- 

 fore they first eat garlic and take a draught of neat 

 wine therewith. On the other hand the following 

 ideas may be considered far-fetched and irrelevant ; 

 5 for instance they say that the peony, which some 

 call glykyside, should be dug up at night, for, if a man 

 does it in the day-time and is observed by a wood- 

 pecker while he is gathering the fruit, he risks the 

 loss of his eyesight ; and, if he is cutting the root at 

 the time, he gets prolapsus ani. 



2 Plin. 13. 124 ; Diosc. 4. 153. 

 8 cf. 9. 18. 6. 4 Plin. 25. 50. 



6 Plin. 27. 85 ; 25. 29. 



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