38 pliny's natural history. [Book XXIV. 
CHAP. 54. THE RHUS OK SUMACH-TREE ; TWO VARIETIES OF IT : 
EIGHT REMEDIES. STOMATICE. 
^or yet has the tree called **rhus'*^^ any Latin name, al- 
though it is employed in numerous ways. Under this name 
are comprehended a wild plant, with leaves like those of 
myrtle, and a short stem, which is good as an expellent of 
tapeworm ; and the shrub which is known as the " currier's 
plant," of a reddish colour, a cubit in height, and about the 
thickness of one's finger, the leaves of which are dried and 
used, like pomegranate rind, for curing leather. 
Medical men also employ the leaves of these plants for the 
treatment of contusions, and for the cure of coeliac affections, 
and of ulcers of the rectum and phagedsenic sores ; for all which 
purposes they are pounded with honey and applied with 
vinegar. A decoction of them is injected for suppurations of 
the ears. With the branches, boiled, a stomatice'^^ is also made, 
which is used for the same purposes as that prepared from 
mulberries it is more efficacious, however, mixed with alum. 
This preparation is applied also to reduce the swelling in dropsy. 
CHAP. 55. RHUS ERYTHROS : NINE REMEDIES. 
"Rhus'^ erythros is the name given to the seed of this shrub. 
It possesses properties of an astringent and cooling nature, and 
is used as a seasoning for provisions, in place of salt. It has 
a laxative effect, and, used in conjunction with silphium, it 
gives a finer flavour to meat of all kinds. Mixed with honey, 
it is curative of running ulcers, pimples on the tongue,^^ con- 
tusions, bruises, and excoriations. It causes ulcers of the 
head to cicatrize with the greatest rapidity ; and taken with 
the food, it arrests excessive menstruation. 
CHAP. 56. THE ERYTHaODANUS : ELEVEN REMEDIES. 
The erythrodanus,^^ by some called ereuthodanus," and 
26 See B. xiii. c. 13. The sumach-tree ; the Rhus coriaria of Linnseus. 
Identified by Fee with the Coriaria myrtifolia of Linnaeus, or myrtle- 
leaved sumach. It is used in the preparation of leather, Fee says, and is 
intensely poisonous. 28 q^\^Q sumach-tree. 
Or mouth-medicine." See B. xxii. c. 11, and B. xxiii. cc. 58 and 71. 
3« See B. xxiii. c. 71. si Qr ros/' See B. xiii. c. 13, 
2" Fee says that this is still done in some parts of Turkey. 
" Asperitati linguae." 
^' Red rose our madder. See B. xix. c. 17. Beckmann is of 
