BOOK XXII. XXIX. 61-XXX. 63 



tropium at any rate draws warts out by the root, as 

 well as growths in the seat. Corrupt blood '^ also 

 about the spine or in the loins is witlidrawn by an 

 appUcation of the seed, and by a draught or decoction 

 of it in chicken broth, or with beet and lentils. The 

 husk of the seed restores the natural colour to livid 

 patches. The Magi recommend that the patient 

 himself should tie on himself heliotropium, four 

 liieces if the ague be quartan and three if it be 

 tertian, and to say in prayer that he will untie the 

 knots onlv when the fever has left him, and to h'e 

 in bed without taking the plant ofF. 



XXX. Maidenhair too is remarkable, but in other Maidenfiah. 

 wavs. It is green in summer vvithout fading in 

 winter ; it rejects water; sprinkled or dipped it is 

 just like a dry plant — so great is the antipathy 

 manifested — whence too comes the name given by 

 the Greeks * to what in other respects is a shrub for 

 ornamental gai-dens. Some call it kwely hair " or 

 tliick liair,'' both names being derived from its 

 properties. For it dyes the hair, for which purpose 

 a dccoction is made in wine with celery seed added 

 and plenty of oil, in order to make it grow eurly and 

 thick ; moreover it prevents hair from falHng out. 

 There are two kinds : one is whiter than the other, 

 which is dark and shorter. The larger kind, thick 

 hair, is called by some trichomanes.'' Both have 

 sprigs of a shiny black, with leaves like those of 

 fern, of which the lower are rough and tawny, but 

 all grow from opposite footstalks, close set and facing 

 each other ; there is no root. It is mostly found on 

 shaded rocks, walls wet with spray, especially the 

 grottoes of fountains, and on boulders streaming 



' Mad on hair, i.e. with vvild hair ( ?). 



337 



