Chap. 101.] 
THE APEOXIS. 
63 
CHAP. 100. — THE MmSAS OR CORINTHIA: ONE REMEDY. 
Pythagoras gives the name of minsas^^ too, or corinthia, to 
another plant ; a decoction of which, used as a fomentation, 
will effect an instantaneous cure of stings inflicted by serpents, 
according to him. He adds too, that if this decoction is poured 
upon the grass, and a person happens to tread upon it, or if 
the body should chance to be sprinkled with it, the result is 
fatal beyond all remedy ; so monstrously malignant are the 
venomous proporties of this plant, except as neutralizing 
other kinds of poison. 
CHAP 101. THE APROXIS : SIX REMEDIES. 
Pythagoras makes mention, too, of a plant called aproxis, 
the root of which takes fire^^ at a distance, like naphtha, of 
which we have made some mention, when speaking^^ of the mar- 
vellous productions of the earth. He says too, that if the 
human body happens to be attacked by any disease while the 
cabbage^* is in blossom, the person, although he may have 
been perfectly cured, will be sensible of a recurrence of the 
symptoms, every time that plant comes into blossom ; a. 
peculiarity which he attributes to it in common with wheat, 
hemlock, and the violet. 
I am not ignorant, however, that the work of his from 
which I have just quoted is ascribed to the physician Cleem- 
porus by some, though antiquity and the unbroken current of 
tradition concur in claiming it for Pythagoras. It is quite 
enough, however, to say in favour of a book, that the author 
has deemed the results of his labours worthy to be published 
under the name of so great a man. And yet who can believe 
that Cleemporus would do this, seeing that he has not 
hesitated to publish other works under his own name ? 
The reading of this word is doubtful. Hardouin thinks that it is the 
same as the Minyanthes mentioned in B. xxi. c. 88. 
^2 Fee says that the only cases known of a pheenoraenon resembling- 
this, are those of the Dictamnus albus, white dittany, which attracts flame 
momentarily when in flower, and of the Tropceolum majus, or great Indian 
cress. He thinks, however, that there are some trees so rich in essential 
oil, that they might possibly ignite as readily as naphtha. 
^ In B. ii. c. 109. 
Another reading here is aproxis,'' which seems more probable. 
