Gbap. 9.] 
EEMARKS OlS" THE PRACTICES OF MAGIC. 
159 
most extraordinary degree. He disapproved also of the prac- 
tice of administering internally potions that are naturally 
injurious to the stomach, a thing that may truthfully be pro- 
nounced of the greater part of them. Indeed it will be as well 
to take an early opportunity of stating what are the medi- 
caments which act beneficially upon the stomach. 
CH AP. 9. (4). EEMARKS IN DISPRAISE OF THE PRACTICES OF MAGIC. 
But above all things, it w^as the follies of magic more par- 
ticularly that contributed so essentially to his success — follies 
which had been carried to such a pitch as to destroy all confi- 
dence in the remedial virtues of plants. Thus, for instance, 
it was stoutly maintained that by the agency of the plant aethi- 
opis^^ rivers and standing waters could be dried up, and that by 
the very touch^^ * ^ ^ * all bars and doors might be opened : 
that if the plant achaemenis^^ were thrown into the ranks of the 
enemy it would be certain to create a panic and put them to 
flight : that latace'^^ was given by the Persian kings to their 
ambassadors, to ensure them an abundant supply of ever}^- 
thing wdierever they might happen to be : with numerous 
other reveries of a similar nature. Where, I should like to 
know, were all these plants, when the Cimbri and Teutones 
brought upon us the horrors of warfare with their terrific yells ? 
or v/hen Lucullus defeated, with a few legions, so many kings 
who ruled over the Magi Why is it too that the Eoman 
generals have always made it their first care in warfare to 
make provision for the victualling of their troops ? And how 
was it that atPharsalia the troops of Caesar were suffering from 
famine, if an abundance of everything could have been ensured 
by the fortunate possession of a single plant ? Would it not have 
been better too for Scipio ^milianus to have opened the gates 
of Carthage by touching them with a herb, than to have taken 
so many years to batter down its bulwarks with his engines of 
war? 
Turning to the present moment, let them, by the agency of 
the herb merois,^^ dry up the Pomptine"^ Marshes, if they can, 
~» See B. xxiv. c. 102. 
We agree with Pintiamis that the name of some plant here has been 
lost, the word '* condiendis " making no sense. 
31 See B. xxiv. c. 102. 
3^ Some plant as fictitious as the others here mentioned. 
33 See B XXX. c. i. ^4 g.^ B. xxiv. c. 102. ^-^ See B. iii. c. 9. 
