ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IX. xvm. 2 -xix. i 



if it is shredded over him ; while if one then sprinkles 

 him with white hellebore, they say that he comes to 

 life again. It is also fatal to oxen sheep beasts of 

 burden and in general to any fourfooted animal, and 

 kills them the same day if the root or leaf is put on 

 the genitals; and it is also useful as a draught against 

 a scorpion's sting. It has a leaf like cyclamen, and 

 a root, as was said, like a scorpion. 1 It grows like 

 dog's-tooth grass, and is jointed, and it loves shady 

 places. Now if what has been told already about 

 the scorpion be true, then other similar tales are not 

 incredible. (Indeed fabulous tales are not composed 

 without some reason). 2 And in relation to our own 

 persons, apart from their effects in regard to health 

 disease and death, it is said that herbs have also 

 other properties affecting not only the bodily but 

 also the mental powers 



Of plants possessing properties which affect the mental powers. 



XTX. As to those which affect the mind, strykhnos, 

 as was said before, 3 is said to upset the mental 

 powers and make one mad ; 4 while the root of 

 onotheras (oleander) administered in wine makes the 

 temper gentler and more cheerful. This plant has 

 a leaf like the almond, but smaller, 5 and the flower 

 is red like a rose. The plant itself (which loves hilly 

 country) forms a large bush ; the root is red and 

 large, and, if this is dried, it gives off a fragrance 

 like wine. And this does not seem surprising, since 

 there is a sort of ' bouquet ' given off by a thing which 

 has the peculiar quality of wine. 



* Diosc. 4. 117; Plin. 26. 111. 



6 /j.tKp6repov conj. W. ; iriKptrepov UM ; TrXarurepov Aid. (so 

 also Diosc. I.e. ). G seems to have read ^a 



