BOOK XXI. Lxxxviii. 152-LXXXIX. 155 



serve as an antidote for all poisons, and that many 

 other virtues besides are attributed to it as a remedy. 

 But I am led to oppose their views by the authority 

 of a very reUable man ; for the poet Sophocles 

 asserts that it is " poisonous, as does Simos also 

 among the physicians, saying that the juice of the 

 decocted or pounded plant, when poured upon the 

 body, produces the same sensations of burning as 

 those felt by persons bitten by a serpent, when this 

 plant is appHed to the wound. Wherefore I should 

 be of opinion that it should not be used otherwise 

 than as a counter-poison. For perhaps this is one 

 of the many cases where one poison is poisonous to 

 other poisons.* I have Ukewise noted that the seed 

 of that trefoil the leaves of which are very small is 

 useful, when appUed as face-ointment, for preserving 

 the loveUness of women's skin. 



LXXXIX. Thyme ought to be gathered while it 0/ %» 

 is in blossom, and to be dried in the shade. There 

 are two kinds of thyme : — one white, with a wood- 

 like root, growing on hiUs and also the more highly 

 valued ; the other kind is darker and with a dark 

 flower. Both kinds are supposed to be very bene- 

 ficial for brightening the vision, whether taken as 

 food or used in medicines, also for a chronic cough, 

 to ease expectoration when used as an electuary 

 with vinegar and salt, to prevent the blood frora 

 congeaUng when taken with honey, to reUeve, 

 appUed externaUy with mustard, chronic catarrh of 

 the throat, and also complaints of the stomach and 

 bowels. They should be used, however, in modera- 

 tion, since they are heating, and because of this 

 property they are astringent to the bowels ; should 

 these become ulcerated, a denarius of thyme should 



271 



