146 
Pliny's natural kistoet. 
[Book XXY. 
of panaces,^^ chewed, that of the chironion in particular, and 
juice of panaces, used as a collutory ; root, too, of henhane, 
chewed with vinegar, and root of polemonia.^^ The root of 
plantago is chewed for a similar purpose, or the teeth are 
rinsed with a decoction of the juice mixed with vinegar. The 
leaves, too, are said to be useful for the gums, when swollen 
with sanious blood, or if there are discharges of blood there- 
from. The seed, too, of plantago is a cure for abscesses in the 
gums, and for gum-boils. Aristolochia has a strengthening 
effect upon the gums and teeth ; and the same with vervain, 
either chewed with the root of that plant, or boiled in wine 
and vinegar, the decoction being employed as a gargle. The 
same is the case, also, with root of cinquefoil, boiled down to 
one third, in wine or vinegar ; before it is boiled, however, the 
root should be washed in sea or salt water : the decoction, too, 
must be kept a considerable time in the mouth. Some persons 
prefer cleaning the teeth with ashes of cinquefoil. 
Eoot of verbascum^^ is also boiled in wine, and the decoction 
used for rinsing the teeth. The same is done too with hyssop 
and juice of peucedanum , mixed with opium ; or else the juice 
of the root of anagallis,^^ the female plant in particular, is 
injected into the nostril on the opposite side to that in which 
the pain is felt. 
CHAP. 106. EElGEROIsr, PAPPUS, ACANTHIS, OE SENECIO *. EIGPIT 
EEMEDIES. 
Erigeron^^ is called by our people senecio." It is said 
that if a person, after tracing around this plant with an imple- 
ment of iron, takes it up and touches the tooth affected with it 
three times, taking care to spit each time on the ground, and 
then replaces it in the same spot, so as to take root again, 
he will never experience any further pain in that tooth. This 
plant has just the appearance and softness of trixago,^^ with a 
number of small reddish-coloured stems : it is found growing 
upon walls, and the tiled roofs of houses. The Greeks have 
11 See (5. 11 of this Book. g^e c. 28 of tliis Book. 
See c. 73 of this Book. See c. 92 of this Book. 
15 Identified by Desfontaines with the Senecio Jacobsea of Lir.naeiis, 
Common ragwort. Fee identifies it with the Senecio vulgaris of Linuieus, 
our Groundsel. They are both destitute of medicinal properties. 
See B, xxiv. c. 80. 
