44 
PLTIJY's NATUB.AL HISTOET. [Book XXIV. 
thorns of Egypt, and from a green thorn as well ; the pro- 
duce, however, of the former trees is by far the best. There is 
also a similar gum found in Galatia, but of very inferior 
quality, the produce of a more thorny tree^^ than those last 
mentioned. The seed of all these trees resembles^ the lentil 
in appearance, only that it is smaller, as well as the pod which 
contains it : it is gathered in autumn, before which period it 
would be too powerful in its effects. The juice is left to 
thicken in the pods, which are steeped in rain-water for the 
purpose, and then pounded in a mortar ; after which, the 
juice is extracted by means of presses. It is then dried in the 
mortars in the sun, and when dry is divided into tablets. A 
similar juice is extracted from the leaves, but it is by no 
means^^ so useful as the other. Jhe seed is used also, as a 
substitute for nut-galls in curing leather.^^ 
The juice extracted from the leaves, as also the extremely 
black juice of the Galatian^''' acacia, is held in no esteem. The 
same too with that of a deep red colour. The gum which is 
of a purple, or of an ashy, grey colour, and which dissolves 
with the greatest rapidity, possesses the most astringent and 
cooling qualities of them all, and is more particularly useful as 
an ingredient in compositions for the eyes. When required 
for these purposes, the tablets are steeped in water by some, 
while some again scorch them, and others reduce them to 
ashes. They are useful for dyeing the hair, and for the cure of 
erysipelas, serpiginous sores, ulcerations of the humid parts of 
the body, gatherings, contusions of the joints, chilblains, and 
hangnails. They are good also for cases of excessive menstru- 
ation, procidence of the uterus and rectum, affections of the 
eyes, and ulcerations of the generative organs^^ and mouth, 
naeus, the white hawthorn, or May. In the present passage, however, it 
is doubtful whether the colours apply to the varieties of gum, or to the trees 
which produce them. Sillig considers the passage to be corrupt. 
^ The Prunus spinosa of Linnseus, Fee thinks, the sloe, or black thorn. 
^ Fee says that the difference in appearance is very considerable between 
them. 
6^ The leaves containing little or no tannin. 
^ In India, the bark of the Acacia Arabica is still used for tanning 
leather. 
This juice. Fee says, obtained from the Prunus spinosa, is known at 
the present day in commerce by the name of Acacia nostras. 
68*^ Fee queries, without sufficient foundation, it would appear, whether 
he is here speaking of syphilitic affections. 
