Chap. 49.] 
THE IBEKIS. 
113 
" consiligo."^^ It is very useful, as we shall have occasion to 
mention^® in the appropriate place, in cases of phthisis where 
recovery is considered more than doubtful. 
CHIP. 49. — THE IBERIS : SEVEN KEMEDIES, 
It is hut very lately, too, that Servilius Democrates, one of 
our most eminent physicians, first called attention to a plant 
to which he gave the name of iberis,^^ a fanciful appellation^* 
only, bestowed by hini upon this discovery of his in the 
verses by him devoted^^ to it. This plant is found mostly 
growing in the vicinity of ancient monuments, old walls, and 
overgrown footpaths : it is an evergreen, and its leaves are 
like those of nasturtium, with a stem a cubit in height, and a 
seed so diminutive as to be hardl)^ perceptible ; the root, too, 
has just the smell of nasturtium. Its properties are more 
strongly developed in summer, and it is only used fresh- 
gathered : there is considerable difficulty in pounding it. 
Mixed with a small proportion of axle-grease, it is extremely 
useful for sciatica and all diseases of the joints ; the application 
being kept on some four hours at the utmost, when used by 
the male sex, and about half that time in the case of females. 
Immediately after its removal, the patient must take a warm 
bath, and then anoint the body all over with oil and wine — 
the same operation being repeated every twenty days, so long 
as there are any symptoms of pain remaining. A similar 
method is adopted for the cure of all internal defluxions ; it 
Sprengel and other commentators identify it with the Pulmonaria 
officinaHs of Linnaeus, Lungwort or Pulmonary. Others, again, consider it 
to be the Veratrum album of Linnaeus, or White hellebore. Fee considers 
that its synonym has not hitherto been discovered. Holland calls it Bear- 
foot. 96 xxvi. c. 21. 
9' Fee identifies it with the Lepidium graminifolium of Linnaeus, Grass- 
leaved pepperwort ; Desfontaines with the L. Iberis of Linnaeus, Bushy 
pepperwort. Littre gives as its synonym the Iberis amara of Linnaeus, 
the White candy-tuft. 
3^ *' Fictum nomen." Salmasius thinks that by these words, Pliny 
means that Democrates invented the name of a friend of his as being the 
discoverer of this plant, which in reality was discovered by himself. It 
would seem to mean, however, that the name iberis " was only a fanciful 
title, derived from the country where it was found, and given to it for want 
of acquaintance with its real name. 
9^ Still preserved in Galen, B. x. c. 2. 
VOL. V. I 
