BOOK XXV. Liii. 93-Liv. 95 



It is recognised at once, as its properties are less potent, 

 for the smallest quantity oftruedittany,takenindrink, 

 burns the mouth. Those who gather them store 

 them in a piece of fennel-giant or reed, which they 

 tie up at the ends, to prevent their losing efficacy. 

 There are some who say that both plants grow in many 

 places, but that while the inferior kinds are found on 

 rich soils, true dittany is only seen on rough ground. 

 There is also a third plant called dittany, unhke the 

 others in appearance and properties ; the leaves are 

 those of sisymbrium and the branches are larger, but 

 there is the established conviction that whatever 

 simple grows in Crete is infinitely superior to any of 

 the same kind to be found elsewhere, and that the 

 next best herbs are those to be found on Mount 

 Parnassus. Report says that simples grow besides on 

 Mount Pelion in Thessaly, on Mount Telethrius in 

 Euboea, and throughout Arcadia and Laconia, and 

 that the Arcadians indeed use, not medicines, but 

 milk in the spring season, because it is at this time 

 chiefly that herbs are swollen with juices which, when 

 the beasts graze, medicate their udders. But the milk 

 they drink is cow's milk, since kine will feed on 

 almost any kind of plant. The potency of plants 

 becomes clear from two striking examples of their 

 action even" on quadrupeds : horses that have grazed 

 around Abdera and what is called " the bounds of 

 Diomedes " go raving mad, as do also the asses 

 that graze around Potniae. 



LIV. Among the most celebrated plants aristo- Aristoiochia,\ 

 lochia received its name, as is clear, from women 

 with child, because they considered it to be apLGTrf 

 Xexovcratg, that is, " excellent for women in child- 

 bed." Latin writers call it " earth apple," dis- 



205 



