ChRp. 53.] 
DTCTAMNOlf, 
115 
another plant. When stung by a serpent, it cures itself, they 
say, by eating a certain herb, taking care, however, never to 
gather it in presence of man. 
CHAP. 52. THE ELAPH0B0SC0I5. 
The hind, with a much greater degree of frankness, has dis- 
covered to us the elaphoboscon, a plant of which we have 
already'' spoken, and which is also called helxine,''* from the 
assistance it affords those animals in yeaning. 
CHAP. 63. DICTAMNON I EIGHT KEMEDIES. PSEITDODICTAMNOI^ 
OE CHONDRIS. IN WHAT PLACES THE MOST POWERFUL PLANTS 
A.EE FOUND. HOW THAT MILK IS DKUNK IN ARCADIA FOR THE 
BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF THE PLANTS UPON WHICH THE CATTLE 
FEED. 
It is the hind, too, that, as already^ stated, first made us ac- 
quainted with dictamnon,^^ or dittany ; for when wounded^ it 
eats some of this plant, and the weapon immediately falls from 
the body. This plant grows nowhere^^ but in Crete. The 
branches of it are remarkably thin ; it resembles pennyroyal 
in appearance, and is hot and acrid to the taste. The leaves 
are the only part employed, it being destitute of blossom, 
seed, and stem : the root is thin, and never used. In Crete 
even, it is found growing only in a very limited locality, and 
is sought by goats with singular avidity. 
In place of it, the pseudodictamnum^^ is employed, a plant 
that is found growing in many countries. In leaf it is similar 
to the other, but the branches are more diminutive : by some 
persons it is known as chondris." Its properties not being 
so strongly developed, the difference is immediately recognized : 
for an infusion of the very smallest piece of the real dittany, 
7 In B. xxii. c. 37. 
^ From the Greek cXkw, to draw." 
9 In B. viii. c. 41. 
The Origanum dictamnus of Linnaeus, Dittany of Candia. 
11 This is an error : it grows, and doubtless did in Pliny's time, in 
numerous other places ; but that of Mount Ida in Crete was held in the 
highest esteem. 
12 It has all three, in fact ; as Fee says, it is evident that Pliny never 
saw it. Its medicinal properties are no longer held in any esteem. 
13 False-dittany." It is generally identified with the Marrubium 
pseudodictamnus of Linnaeus, the Shrubby white horehound ; thougli per- 
haps on insufficient grounds. 
I 2 
