22 
pliny's natukal histohy. 
[Book XXIV. 
and strangury, and the juice of the leaves is taken warm for 
ear-ache. So long^^ as a person holds a sprig of poplar in 
his hand, there is no fear oP^ chafing between the thighs. 
The black poplar which grows in Crete is looked upon as 
the most efficacious of them all. The seed of it, taken in 
vinegar, is good for epilepsy. This tree produces a resin also 
to a small extent, which is made use of for emollient plasters. 
The leaves, boiled in vinegar, are applied topically for gout. 
A moisture that exudes from the clefts of the black poplar 
removes warts, and pimples caused by friction. Poplars 
produce also on the leaves a kind of sticky*^ juice, from which 
bees prepare their propolis indeed this juice, mixed with 
water, has the same virtues as propolis. 
CHAP. 33. THE ELM I SIXTEEN EEMEDIES. 
The leaves, bark, and branches of the elm'*^ have the pro- 
perty of filling up wounds and knitting the flesh together: 
the inner membrane^^ too, of the bark, and the leaves, steeped 
in vinegar, are applied topically for leprosy. The bark, in 
doses of one denarius, taken in one hemina of cold water, acts 
as a purgative upon the bowels, and is particularly useful for 
carrying off pituitous and aqueous humours. The gum also 
which this tree produces is applied topically to gatherings, 
wounds, and burns, which it would be as well to foment with 
the decoction also. The moisture^^ which is secreted on 
the follicules of the tree gives a finer colour to the skin, 
and improves the looks. The foot-stalks of the leaves that 
first appear, boiled in wine, are curative of tumours, and 
•^^ See also c. 38, as to the Vitex. 
'^^ This superstition probably applies to persons riding on horseback. 
''Guttam/^ This is the substance known to us as honey-dew." 
It is either secreted by the plant itself, or deposited on the leaves by au 
aphis. It is found more particularly on the leaves of the rose, the plane, 
the lime, and the maple. Bees and ants are particularly fond of it. 
^1 Bee-glue. See B. xi. c. 6, and B. xxii. c. 50. 
^ See B. xvi. c. 29. The bark of the elm, like that of most other trees, 
has certain astringent properties. 
*3 Fee says that it is only some few years since the inner bark of the 
elm was sometimes prescribed medicinally, but that it has now completely 
fallen into disuse. All that Pliny says here of the virtues of the elm is 
entirely suppositious. 
A kind of honey-dew, no doubt. 
*' Cauliculi foliorum primi." 
