ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IX. x. 4 -xi. 2 



ceeding harsh. These plants then, while resembling 

 the best form in appearance, differ in their virtues. 



Some call the black the 'hellebore of Melampus,' 1 

 saying that he first cut and discovered it. Men also 

 purify horses and sheep with it, at the same time 

 chanting an incantation ; and they put it to several 

 other uses. 



Of the various kinds of all-heal. 



XI. There are also several kinds of all-heal 

 tithymallos (spurge) and other herbs. To begin with, 

 one plant called all-heal is the one found in Syria, of 

 which we have recently spoken. 2 3 Then come the 

 three other kinds, known as that of Chaeronea, that 

 of Asclepios, and that of Heracles. That of Chae- 

 ronea has a leaf like monk's rhubarb, but larger and 

 rougher, a golden flower, and a small 4 root ; and it 

 specially loves rich ground ; they use it for the bites 

 of snakes, spiders, vipers 5 and other reptiles, ad- 

 ministering it in wine or anointing the place with it 

 mixed with olive-oil. In treating a snake-bite they 

 use a plaster of it, and also give a draught of it 

 mixed with vinegar 6 ; and they also say that it is good 

 for sores 7 when mixed with wine and olive-oil, and 

 for tumours when mixed with honey. 



8 The kind called after Asklepios has a white and 

 very stout root about a span long and a thick bark 

 which is crusted with salt 9 ; its stem is jointed all 

 the way up, its leaf like that of thapsia, but 

 thicker ; it is said that it is good to scrape and drink 



5 (tTjros conj. Seal., cf. Arist. Mir. Ausc. 164 ; ffr/ras Aid. 

 xal ev o^ivr, conj. Sch., cf. 9. 13. 3 ; eV ofay /eai PAld. 



7 For the genitive cf. 2, 3 ; Xen. Mem. 3. 8. 3. 



8 Plin. 25. 30 ; Diosc. 3. 49. 



9 aAuKwSrj : ? ' has a briny taste. ' 



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