BOOK XXV. Lxxxv. 135-LXXXIX. 139 



this the head is rubbed in the contrary way to the 

 hair. 



LXXXVI. From calUthrix also is made a snuff. 

 This plant has the leaves of the lentil ; the stems are 

 very slender rushes and the root is very small. It 

 grows in shady, moist places, and has a hot taste. 



LXXXVII. Hyssop crushed in oil is good for 

 phthiriasis and itch on the scalp. The best comes 

 from Mount Taurus in CiHcia, the next best from 

 PamphyHa and Smyrna. Upsetting the stomach, it 

 purges by stool if taken with figs, by vomitings if 

 taken with honey. Pounded with honey, salt, and 

 cummin it is also supposed to counteract the poison 

 of snake bites. 



LXXXVIII. Lonchitis is not, as most people have 

 thought, the same plant as xiphion or phasganion, 

 although the seed is Hke a spear point ; for it has 

 leaves Hke those of the leek, reddish near the root and 

 more numerous than on the stem, Httle heads Hke the 

 masksofcomedy,whichputoutasmal]tongue,andvery 

 long roots. It grows in thirsty soils. (LXXXIX.) 

 Xiphion or phasganion on the other hand grows in 

 moist soils. When it first leaves the ground it 

 presents the appearance of a sword, has a stem two 

 cubits high, and a fringed root Hke a filbert, which 

 must be dug up before harvest and dried in the shade. 

 The upper part of it, beaten up with frankincense and 

 mixed with an equal quantity by weight of wine, 

 extracts bone spHnters from the head and allsuppurat- 

 ing matter in the body, or any snake bones 

 that have been trodden on ; the plant also 

 counteracts poisons." Headache is reHeved by 



that a snake's skeleton would make a nasty wound if trodden 

 on. Tliat may be so, but would a person wearing sandals 



233 



