BOOK XXIV. Lvi. 94-Lviii. 97 



branches with the leaves are applied for snake-bites. 

 The leaves also dye the hair. I find in some author- 

 ities that jaundice is cured if this shrub is merely 

 looked at while worn as an amulet. 



LVII. The plant called alysson diifers from the last Aiysson. 

 only in having smaller leaves and bi-anches. It has 

 received its name because it prevents persons bitten 

 by a dog from going mad if they take it in vinegar 

 and wear it as an amulet. The authorities add the 

 wonderful marvel that the mere sight of this shrub 

 dries up sanies." 



LVIII. Radicula too prepares wools for the dyers ; Radicuia. 

 I have said** that it is called struthion by the Greeks. 

 It cures jaundice both when taken by itself in drink 

 and in the form of a decoction, and likewise chest 

 troubles ; it promotes urine, loosens the bowels and 

 purges the uterus, for which reason physicians call it 

 " golden goblet " .' With honey too it is a splendid 

 remedy for a cough, and in doses of a spoonful for 

 orthopnoea ; but with pearl barley and vinegar 

 it removes leprous sores. Again, with panaces ^ 

 and caper root it breaks up and expels stone in the 

 bladder, and a decoction with barley meal and wine 

 disperses superficial abscesses. It is used as an in- 

 gredient of poultices, and of eye-salves to improve 



* See XIX. § 48. 



° The text has suSered in this sentence through probably 

 the sleepiness of a scribe. I have tried to restore the sense 

 and the gramniar while retaining as many vvords of the 

 MSS. as possible. I suggest foiorium because of XXXIII. 

 § 136; otherwise polerion (Sillig and Detlefsen) or poculwm (the 

 vulgate reading) would suit the passage. The objection to 

 Mayhoff's ingenious Treaaov is that it would apply only to vulvas 

 purgal. 



^ See Index of Plants. 



71 



