BOOK XXIV. Lxxvii. 126-LXXX. 130 



stniation. The Indian variety is distinguished by the 

 kimps being black outside and red inside, quickly turn- 

 ing black when they have been broken, This kind is 

 very astringent, and bitter. It is useful for all the same 

 purposes as are the other kinds, but especially for 

 treating the genitals. 



LXXVIII. Some think that sarcocolla " is the Sarcoeoiia. 

 tear-hke drop of a thorn. It is like powdered 

 frankincense, sweet with a touch of harshness, and 

 gummy. It checks fluxes, and is used especially as 

 an ointment for babies. It too grows black with age, 

 and the whiter it is the better its quality. 



LXXIX. There is still one famous remedy, called Oporicc. 

 oporice,* to be included among the medicines that 

 are obtained from trees. Used for dysentery and 

 stomach troubles, it is made in the following way. In 

 a congius " of white grape-juice are boiled down over 

 a slow heat five quinces, seeds and all, five pome- 

 granates, one sextarius of sorb-apples, an equal 

 quantity of what is called Syrian sumach, and half an 

 ounce of saffron. The boiling continues until the 

 consistency is that of honey. 



LXXX. To these remedies I will add those which, 

 because the Greeks have given the same name to 

 different objects, we might be led to suppose came 

 from trees.'* 



The chamaedrys (" gi-ound oak ") is a plant whose -aromid" 

 Latin name is trixago. Some have called it cha- "''^'^*' 

 maerops, and others the Trojan plant. It has leaves 

 of the same size as mint leaves, coloured and indented 

 as are those of the oak. Some have called it " saw- 



' A congius was a liquid measure containing six sextarii, or 

 nearly six English pints. 



^ The plants that foUow are all ground " trees." 



93 



