BOOK XXIV. ciii. 168-CV111. 170 



CIII. Manv have described the eriphia. It has a The cripMa. 

 beetle running up and down inside its stem, making a 

 noise like that of a kid ; hence also comes its name.** 

 It is said that nothing is better than this pLant for j 



improving the voice. 



CIV. The wool-plant given to fasting sheep pro- Thevooi- 

 duces an abundance of milk. Equally well known f^'^"^"^^'^ 

 generally is the lactoris, a plant full of milk a taste of 

 which produces vomitings. Some say that this is 

 the same plant (others say one hke it) as that called 

 the mihtary plant, because there is no wound made 

 by iron which is not cured within five days by an 

 appUcation of it in oil. 



CV. Another plant highly popular among the The 

 Greeks is the stratiotes, but it grows only in Egypt ■^™*"**- 

 when the Nile is in flood ; it is Hke the aizotlm, only 

 its leaves are larger. It is wonderfully cooUng, and 

 appUed in vinegar heals wounds, as weU as erysipelas 

 and suppurations. It also arrests haemorrhage of 

 the kidneys in a marvellous way if taken in drink 

 with male frankincense. 



CVI. A plant that grows on the head of a statue, Variom 

 gathered into a piece taken from some garment and '^ """' 

 tied on with red thread, is said to reUeve headache 

 immediately 011 being appUed. 



CVII. Any plant whatsoever, gathered before 

 sun-rise out of streams or rivers, provided that 

 nobody sees the gatherer, if it is tied as an , 



amulet to the left arm, is said to keep away tertian ] 



agues, provided that the patient does not know 

 what is going on. 



CVIII. The plant caUed " tongue " grows around " Tongiie: 

 springs. Its root, burnt and pounded with pigs 

 " The " kid-plant." 



