152 
BOOK XXVI. 
A CONTINUATION OF THE REMEDIES DERIVED FROM 
PLANTS, CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO PARTICULAR 
DISEASES. 
CHAP. 1. (1.) — NEW FOEMS OF DISEASE. 
The face of man has recently been sensible of new forms of 
disease, unknown^ in ancient times^ not only to Italy, but to 
almost the whole of Europe. Still, however, they have not as 
yet extended to the whole of Italy, nor have they made any 
very great inroads in Illyricum, Gaul, or Spain, or indeed 
any other parts, to so great an extent as in Eome and its en- 
virons. Though unattended with pain, and not dangerous to 
life, these diseases are of so loathsome a nature, that any form 
of death would be preferable to them. 
CBAP. 2. THE NATUEE OF LICHEN. 
The most insupportable of all these diseases is the one which, 
after its Greek appellation, is known to us as lichen."^ In 
consequence, however, of its generally making its first appear- 
ance at the chin, the Latins, by way of joke, originally — so 
prone are mankind to make a jest of the misfortunes of others 
— gave it the name of ^' mentagra ^ an appellation which has 
since become established in general use. In many cases, how- 
ever, this disease spreads over the interior of the mouth, and 
takes possession of the whole face, with the sole exception of 
the eyes ; after which, it passes downwards to the neck, breast, 
and hands, covering them with foul furfuraceous eruptions. 
CHAP. 3. AT WHAT PEEIOD LICHEN FIEST MADE ITS APPEAEANCE 
IN ITALY. 
This curse was unknown to the ancients,' and in the times of 
our fathers even, having first entered Italy in the middle of 
1 Probably as Littre suggests, a peculiar form of elephantiasis, the 
leprosy of the middle ages. 
The *'chin disease from "raentum," the " chin." It is difficult to 
detect the joke which has here incurred the censure of our author. 
^ Meaning the people of Italy. 
