BOOK XXV. Lxxvi. 123-LXXIX. 127 



that though their bite brings speedier death than 



the bite of asps. A helpful remedy is phrynion 



taken in wine, a plant that some call neuras, and 



others poterion, having small flowers and many 



fibrous roots with a pleasant scent. LXXVII. Like- 



wise ahsma, which some call damasonion, others 



lyron. The leaves would be Hke those of the plantain 



were they not narrower, more jagged, and bent 



downwards ; in other respects the two are ahke, even 



in their many veins. It has a single, slender stem, a 



cubit high and Uke a thyrsus at the top, with many j 



close-set roots, slender like those of black hellebore, 



acrid, scented and juicy. It grows in watery places. 



The other kind of the same plant is found in w^oods ; 



it is darker, and has larger leaves. The roots of 



both kinds are used for the poison of frogs and of the 



sea-hare, the dose being a drachma by weight taken 



in wine. Cyclamen is another remedy for the 



poison of sea-hares. The bites of a mad dog also have 



a highly venomous character, a remedy for which will j 



be found in cynorrhodum, of which I have spoken j 



already," in the plantain, and for all bites of wild 



beasts in betony with old neat wine, taken as drink or 



appUed locally. 



LXXVIII. Peristereos is the name of a plant with Perisiereos. 

 a tall stem covered with leaves and sprouting out 

 other stems at the top. It is a great favourite with 

 doves, whence too comes its name.* It is said that 

 dogs never bark at those who have this plant about 

 them. 



LXXIX. Next after these plagues come the Remedies jur 

 poisons that men devise for themselves. Remedies ^poisom. 



<• See§ 17 of thisbook. 



" The name means " dove plant." 



227 



