4 
PLINY*S NATURAL HISTOET. [Book XXIV. 
herb called lotus, and of the plant of Egypt known by the 
same name and as the tree of the Syrtes.'* The berries of 
the lotus, which is known among us as the *' Grecian bean,"^^ 
act astringently upon the bowels ; and the shavings of the wood, 
boiled in wine, are useful in cases of dysentery, excessive 
menstruation, vertigo, and epilepsy: they also prevent the 
hair from falling off. It is a marvellous thing — but there is no 
substance known that is more bitter than the shavings of this 
wood, or sweeter than the fruit. The sawdust also of the 
wood is boiled in myrtle- water, and then kneaded and divided 
into lozenges, which form a medicament for dysentery of re- 
markable utility, being taken in doses of one victoriatus,^* in 
three cyathi of water. 
CHAP. 3. (3.) ACORNS I THIRTEEN REMEDIES. 
Acorris,^^ pounded with salted axle-grease,^^* are curative of 
those indurations known as cacoethe.^'^^ The acorn of the 
holm-oak, however, is the most powerful in its effects ; and 
in all these trees the bark is still more efficacious, as well as 
the inner membrane which lies beneath it. A decoction of 
this last is good for coeliac affections ; and it is applied topically 
in cases of dysentery, as well as the acorns, which are em- 
ployed also for the treatment of stings inflicted by serpents, 
fluxes, and suppurations. The leaves, acorns, and bark, as 
well as a decoction prepared from them, are good as counter- 
poisons. A decoction of the bark, boiled in cows' milk, is 
used topically for stings inflicted by serpents, and is adminis- 
tered in wine for dysentery. The holm-oak is possessed of 
similar properties. 
CHAP. 4. (4.) THE KERMES-BERRY OF THE HOLM-OAK : THREE 
REMEDIES. 
The scarlet berry ^''^ of the holm-oak is applied to fresh 
are given by Dioscorides, B. i. c. 171, to the Egyptian bean or Nymphaea 
Nelumbo of Linnseus. Galen gives the same account as Dioscorides ; it 
is not improbable, therefore, that Pliny is in error. 
23 See B. xvi. c. 53, Note 55. 
21 Half a denarius. See Introduction to Vol. III. 
25 Acorns, as well as the bark of the various kinds of oak, are of an 
astringent nature. 25* q^, hogs' lard. 
26 In the singular number, " cacoethes," " a bad habit ;" signifying a 
malignant or cancerous tumour. 
2' See B. xvi. c. 12. All the properties here ascribed to it. Fee says, 
