BOOK XXIV. Li. 88-Liv. 91 



LI. Akin to the reed is a plant growing in Egypt, Papyrus. 

 the papyrus, which, when it has been dried, is especi- 

 ally useful for expanding and drying fistulas, and, by 

 swelling, for opening them to admit medicaments. 

 The paper made fi-om it is, when burnt, one of the 

 caustic remedies. Its ash taken in wine induces 

 sleep. The plant " itself appUed with water cures 

 callosities. 



LII. Not even in Egypt does the ebony-tree grow, EOony. 

 as I have stated,* and in my medical research I omit 

 foreign regions ; yet I must not pass it by, as it is a 

 great marvel. Its sawdust is said to be a sovereign 

 remedy for the eyes ; its wood, ground on the whet- 

 stone and mixed with raisin wine, to dispel dimness of 

 vision ; its root, appHed however in water, to dis- 

 perse white specks on the eyes ; cough too to be 

 cleared away if an equal measure of dracunculus 

 root is added along with honey. Physicians include 

 ebony among erosive remedies. 



LIII. The rhododendros <^ has not even found a. oiemder. 

 Latin name among the Romans, names for it being 

 rhododaphne " or nerium.'' It is a strange fact that, 

 while its leaves are poisonous to quadrupeds, to man 

 on the other hand, if rue is added and the mixture 

 taken in wine, they are a protection against the 

 poison of snakes. Sheep too and goats, if they drink 

 water in which these leaves have been steeped, are 

 said to be killed by it. 



LIV. Neither has rhus received a Latin name, rims. 

 although many uses are made of it. For it is both a 

 wild plant with myrtle-like leaves and short stems, 

 which expels tapewoi'ms, and also the shi-ub called 



desciibed by Dioscorides (IV. 81, Wellmann). See Index of 

 Plants. 



67 



