130 
plits^y's ]s^atural history. 
[Book XXV. 
we have spoken^^ elsewhere already. The plantago is useful 
for the bites of all kinds of animals, either taken in drink or 
applied topically to the part affected. Betony is taken on 
similar occasions, in old wine, unmixed. 
CHAP. 78. PEKISTEBEOS : SIX KEMEDIES. 
The name of peri stereos^ is given to a plant with a tall stem, 
covered with leaves, and throwing out other stems from the top. 
It is much sought by pigeons, to which circumstance it 
owes its name. Dogs will never bark, they say, at persons 
who have this plant about them. 
CHAP. 79. EEMEDIES AG AINST CEETAIN" POISONS. 
Closely approaching in their nature to these various kinds of 
poisons, are those which have been devised by man for his own 
destruction. In the number of antidotes to all these artificial 
poisons as well as to the spells of sorcery, the very first place 
must be accorded to the moly~ of Homer ; next to which come 
the mithridatia,^ scordotis/ and centaury. The seed of betony 
carries off all kinds of noxious substances by stool ; being taken 
for the purpose in honied wine or raisin wine, or else pulverized, 
and taken, in doses of one drachma, in four cyathi of old wine : 
in this last case, however, the patient must bring it off the 
stomach by vomit and then repeat the dose. Persons who 
accustom themselves to take this plant daily, will never ex- 
perience any injury, they say, from substances of a poisonous 
nature. 
When a person has taken poison, one most powerful remedy 
is aristolochia,^ taken in the same proportions as those used for 
injuries inflicted by serpents.^ The juice, too, of cinquefoil is 
given for a similar purpose ; and in both cases, after the patient 
has vomited, agaric is administered, in doses of one denarius, in 
three cyathi of hydromel. 
99 In c. 6 of this Book. 
1 ^'Pigeon-plant." The same as Vervain, already described in c. 69 of 
Diis Eook. See c. 8 of this Book. 
^ By " Mithridatia " he probably means the antidotes attributed to 
Mithridates in c, 3 of this Book, and in B. xxix. c. 8, and not the plant 
previously mentioned in c. 26. 
4 ^ee c. 27 of this Book. 5 gee c. 54 of this Book. 
6 See c. 55. 
