166 
PLINY's natural history. [Book XXVI. 
particular, teucria^^ is taken fresh, in doses of four drachmse 
to one hemina of oxy crate ; or else betony, in ^the proportion 
of one drachma to three cyathi of warm water. For diseases 
of the heart, betony is recommended, in doses of one drachma 
to two cyathi of cold water. Juice of cinquefoil is remedial 
for diseases of the liver and lungs, and for spitting of blood as 
well as all internal affections of the blood. The two varieties 
of anagallis^^ are wonderfully efficacious for liver complaints. 
Patients who eat the plant called capnos"^^ discharge the 
bile by urine. Acoron^^ is also remedial for diseases of the liver, 
and daucus^* is useful for the thorax and the pectoral organs. 
CHAP. 20 THE EPHEDRA OR ANABASIS ; THREE REMEDIES. 
The ephedra, by some persons called anabasis, mostly 
grows in localities exposed to the wind. It climbs the trunks of 
trees, and hangs down from the branches, is destitute of leaves, 
but has numerous suckers, jointed like a bulrush; the root 
is of a pale colour. This plant is given, pounded, in astringent 
red wine, for cough, asthma, and gripings in the bowels. It 
is administered also in the form of a pottage, to which some 
wine should be added. Eor these complaints, gentian is also 
used, being steeped in water the day before, and then pounded 
and given in doses of one denarius, in three cyathi of wine. 
CHAP. 21. GEUM : THREE REMEDIES. 
Geum^''' is a plant with thin, diminutive roots, black, and 
aromatic. It is curative not only of pains in the chest and 
sides, but is useful also for dispelling crudities, owing to its 
agreeable flavour. Yervain, too, is good for all affections of 
the viscera, and for diseases of the sides, lungs, liver, and 
91 See B. XXV. c. 20. ^2 gge B. xxv. c. 92. 
93 See B. xxv. c. 99. 9* See B. xxv. c. 100. 
9^ See B. xxv. c. 64. 
9^ Probably the Equisetum silvaticum of Linnaeus, our Wild horse-tail. 
He is in error in saying that it climbs the trunks of trees ; a mistake also 
made by Dioscorides, B. iv. c. 46, who calls it hippuris." It is said by 
some to be a strong diuretic. Littre, however, gives as its synonym the 
Ephedra fragilis of Linnaeus. 
^7 The Geum urbanum of Linnaeus, the Common avens, or herb bennet. 
It was probably unknown to the Greeks. 
98 Its root has a smelly like that of cloves, for which reason it is some- 
times known as Caryophyllata." 
