BOOK XXVII. xLvii. 71-L. 74 



XLVII. Dipsacos has leaves like those of lettuce, Dipsacus. 

 with prickly knobs on the middle of their backs. 

 The stem, two cubits long and rough with the same 

 prickles, has joints enfolded by pairs of leaves, 

 forming hollow axils in which collects a salt, dewy 

 fluid. On the top of the stem are httle heads, which 

 bristle with prickles. The plant grows on watery 

 ground. A decoction of the root in wine heals chaps 

 of the anus ; fistulas as well, but the decoction must 

 be reduced to the consistency of wax, so that a 

 suppository may be inserted into the fistula. It also 

 removes warts of all kinds, for which purpose some 

 apply the juice that is found in the axils which I 

 mentioned above. 



XLVIII. Dryopteris, which is hke fern, grows on Dryopteris 

 trees ; it has sw eetish leaves with a shght indentation 

 and a hairy root. It has caustic properties, so that its 

 crushed root is also used as a depilatory, for it is 

 rubbed on until the skin sweats, and then again and 

 a third time without Mashing the sweat away." 



XLIX. Drabe is a similar plant to phonos, with Drabe. 

 slender stalks a cubit high surrounded on either side 

 by leaves the size of a thumb, similar to those of 

 oxymyrsine, but whiter and softer. The blossom is 

 white and hke that of the elder. The stalks are eaten 

 boiled, but its seed is used instead of pepper. 



L. Elatine has leaves hke those of cassia, very Eiaiine. 

 small, shaggy and round, with five or six httle 

 branches, half a foot long, which are covered with 

 leaves right from the root. The plant grows among 

 the corn, is harsh to the taste and therefore good for 

 fluxes of the eyes ; the leaves are pounded with pearl 

 barley and apphed, a napkin being placed under- 



" Or, " 80 that the sweating may not be interrupted." 



433 



