LETTUCE. 75 



some time entertained against it. ?/ Venerem enervandi j " perhaps 

 derived from the works of Dioscorides. * Hence Eubolus Comicus 

 designated it, the food of dead men (mortuorum cibus). After 

 Antonius Musa had cured Augustus of hypochondriasis by means 

 of this plant, it came into great repute. It was eaten after vinous 

 liquors, to correct their effects, and at night to procure sleep. 



" Grataque nobilium, requies Lactucaciborum." 

 According to Horace 



« Lactuca innatat acri, 



Post vinum stomaeho." 



Hor. Satir. lib. ii. v. 5. 

 In the reign of Domitian, the practice of eating it after supper 

 appears to have been reversed ; and the poet Martial inquires, 

 " Why the Lettuce, which was partaken of last at supper by our 

 ancestors, should begin our repasts ?" 



" Claudere quae caenas Lactuca solebat avorum 

 Die mihi, cur nostras inchoat ilia dapes." 



Lib. xi. Epig. 14. 



We are also informed by the pages of mythology, that after the 

 death of Adonis, Venus threw herself on a bed of Lettuces, to miti- 

 gate her passion, and assuage her grief. Galen)- tells us that 

 when from the infirmities of age and excessive study, he was unable 

 to sleep, he found the Lettuce eaten at night a valuable hypnotic; 

 but he also used the decoction of the plant. The plant is gene- 

 rally blanched by gardeners, and though, in this state, it is more 

 tender, sweet and succulent, it may not be quite so wholesome as 

 in its natural state, especially if the ease with which it is digested, 

 even by dyspeptic patients, be correctly attributed to its slight 

 narcotic principle. Dr. W. Philip considers that it acts in this 

 respect like small doses of opium. 



The medicinal qualities of Lettuce depend on a milky juice, 

 which is contained immediately under the cuticle, and exudes on 

 the slightest laceration of the stem or flower- stalks. This juice 

 is pellucid and colourless when existing in the proper vessels of the 

 plant, but becomes milky when first exposed to the air, and after- 

 wards acquires a brownish colour, resembling that of opium ; it 



* Dioscorides observes, " Epotum vero ipsius semen, venerem assidue 

 somniantibus opitulatur, et concubitum arcet." — Mat. Med. 1. c. In later 

 times, Lobel and Ray have disseminated a like opinion, but it needs not to 

 be refuted. 



t De Alim. fac. lib. ii. c. 40. 



