BOOK XXIV. xLiii. 73-.\Lvii. 75 



XLIII. Nor is the red-twigged tree considered Cornet. 

 more lucky. Its inner bark opens scars which have 

 healed too soon. 



XLIV. The leaves of siler applied" to the fore- niur. 

 head relieve headache. The seed of it too crushed 

 in oil checks phthiriasis.** Serpents keep away from 

 this shrub also, and for this reason rustics carry a 

 walking stick made of it. 



XLV. Privet, if it is the same tree as the cypros of Privet. 

 the East, has its own uses in Europe. Its juice 

 benefits '^ sinews, joints and chills ; its leaves every- 

 where are used to treat chronic ulcer and, with a 

 sprinkhng of salt, sores in the mouth ; the berries are 

 employed for phthiriasis, and the berries or the leaves 

 for chafing between the thighs. The berries also 

 cure the pip in chickens. 



XLVI. The leaves of the alder in very hot water rheaider. 

 are a remedy for tumours. 



XLVII. I have pointed ouf twenty kinds of ivy. i»y. 

 The medicinal properties of all are twofold in action. 

 Ivy deranges the mind and also clears the head when 

 taken too copiously in drink ; '^ taken internally it in- 

 jures sinews, while an external appHcation does 

 them good. All kinds of ivy, being of the same charac- 

 ter as vinegar, are of a cooUng nature. They are diu- 

 retic when taken in drink ; they relieve headache ; 

 especially beneficial to the brain and to the membrane 



<* Book XVI. § 141 ff. 



« The word o.nceps in the preceding sentence, and the con- 

 trasted nocet . . . prodest in the second clause of this, indicate 

 that there is also a contrast in the first clause. The translation 

 given above suggests that a strong dose is mentaUy harmful but 

 physically beneticial, but it must be admitted that in the Latin 

 the contrast would be plainer if for et were to be read at or sed 

 (Mayhoff often reads set). But the MSS. show no variants. 



57 



