26 
Pliny's natukal history. [Book XXIY. 
the tree itself, and another distils from an incision some three 
fingers in width, made in the hark while the tree is in blossom. 
This last is very useful for dispersing humours which impede 
the sight, acting also as an inspissative when needed, promoting 
the discharge of the urine, and bringing abscesses of all kinds 
to a head. The third kind of juice exudes from the wounds, 
when the branches are lopt off with the bill. Either of these 
juices, warmed in a pomegranate rind, is used as an injection 
for diseases of the ears. The leaves, too, boiled and beaten 
up with wax, are employed as a liniment for similar purposes, 
and for gout. The bark and leaves, boiled in wine, form a 
decoction that is remarkably useful as a fomentation for affec- 
tions of the sinews. The blossoms, bruised with the leaves, 
remove scaly eruptions of the face ; and the leaves, bruised and 
taken in drink, check libidinous tendencies,^^ and effectually 
put an end to them, if habitually employed. 
The seed of the black willow of Ameria,^^ mixed with 
litharge in equal proportions, and applied to the body just 
after the bath, acts as a depilatory. 
CHAP. 38. THE VITEX : THIETY-THREE REMEDIES. 
IS'ot much unlike the willow, for the use that is made of it 
in wicker-work, is the vitex,^^ which also resembles it in the 
leaves and general appearance, though the smell of it is more 
agreeable. The Greeks call it *'lygos," or *'agnos,"^^ from 
the fact that the matrons of Athens, during the Thesmo- 
phoria,^ a period when the strictest chastity is observed, are 
in the habit of strewing their beds with the leaves of this tree. 
There are two species of vitex : the larger one, like the 
willow, attains the full proportions of a tree ; while the other, ^ 
which is smaller, is branchy, with a paler, downy leaf. The 
first kind, generally known as the white " vitex, bears a 
*2 The leaves have no effect whatever as an antaphrodisiac. 
See B. xvi. c. 69. 
The Vitex agnus castas of Linnaeus, the tree of chastity. 
The " chaste" tree. It is no longer used in medicine ; the fruit has some- 
what the flavour of spice, Fee says, and taken internally it would have the 
converse of an antaphrodisiac effect. The other parts of it are quite inert. 
An Attic festival celebrated yearly in honour of Demeter, which 
lasted four or five days. It was also celebrated in other parts of Greece. 
The Vitex agnus castus of Lamarck, variety y3, Elatior. 
The Vitex agnus castus of Linnaeus, the type. 
