84 AsTeR History 
5. For poisonous bites, of serpents and of other animals, Pliny, 
D. v., Euporista. 
6. For inflammations, especially of the groin, and testes, and 
those of the mammae, Piiny, Galen. 
7. In labor (applied to stop a flow of blood), D. v., Aretacus. 
8. To drink in water and wine as a stomachic, D. v. 
g. Tied on as an amulet, worn by women as a QvAaxTH 00> 
(to promote conception and parturition), D. v. 
All of these resemblances in use lead to the conclusion that 
Aster Samius received its name because of similarity in properties 
to Aster Atticus ; rather than to the conclusion that Aster Samius 
was so called simply because a star remedy or a first-quality rem- 
edy, as Riley implies in his Pliny, 6: 298, remarking of Aster 
Samius that it is “ ‘Star’ earth apparently.’ Another possible 
reason for the name Aster Samius might be found in its stamped 
packets if they bore the stamp of a star; but there is nothing to 
indicate that they did, or that if they did, the use of that stamp 
may not have been due to the name Aster already in vogue for the 
remedy. There were many earths used medicinally and to some 
extent interchangeably ; but it is worthy of note that the particular 
earth among them all which had strongest resemblance to Aster — 
Atticus in properties was the earth to which the name Aster was 
given, as Galen takes pains to make very plain. 
All of these earths differed from Aster Atticus in having 4 
highly astringent property. Most of them resembled it in being 
as Galen puts it, “ excellent moderate remedies without great heat 
or cold... and of all these the best is Aster.” : 
It appears, on the whole, probable, Ist, that the flowers and 
whole plant of Aster Atticus, receiving name from its star formed 
blossoms, were in use by name Aster for buboes and ulcers, as a2 
eye-salve and stomachic and anti-toxic, and also as an amulet, for 
ties, notably as an amulet (the “stone”’ or harder masses found in” 
them) and for inguinal and ophthalmic inflammations. Among the 
many earths of similar appearance and use, it was the especial name_ 
of that white earth exported from Samos ; though those authors 
