Chap. 68.] 
THE GEEANIOTS". 
195 
CHAP. 68. THE GEEANION, MYRKHIS, OR MYRTIS ; THREE VARIE- 
TIES OF IT : SIX REMEDIES. 
The plant geranion has the additional names of myrrhis'^^** 
and myrtis." It is similar to hemlock in appearacce, but 
has a smaller leaf and a shorter stem, rounded, and of a plea- 
sant taste and odour. Such, at all events, is the description 
given of it by our herbalists ; but the Greeks speak of it as 
bearing leaves a little whiter than those of the mallow, thin 
downy stems, and branches at intervals some two palms in 
length, with small heads at their extremities, in the midst 
of the leaves, resembling the bill of a crane.°^ There is also 
another variety of this plant, with leaves like those of the 
anemone, but with deeper incisions, and a root rounded like 
an apple, sweet, and extremely useful and refreshings^ for 
invalids when recovering their strength ; this last would al- 
most seem to be the true geranion. 
Eor phthisis this plant is taken, in the proportion of one 
drachma to three cyathi of wine, twice a day ; as also for 
flatulency. Eaten raw, it is productive of similar effects. The 
juice of the root is remedial for diseases of the ear ; and for 
opisthotony the seed is taken in drink, in doses of four drachmae^ 
with pepper and myrrh. Juice of plantago,^^ taken in drink, 
is curative of phthisis, and a decoction of it is equally good for 
the purpose. Plantago taken as a food with oil and salt, 
immediately after rising in the morning, is extremely refreshing; 
it is prescribed, too, in cases of atrophy, on alternate days. 
Eetony is given with honey, in the form of an electuary, for 
phthisis, in pieces the size of a bean ; agaric, too, is taken in 
doses of two oboli in raisin wine, or else daucus with the 
greater centaury in wine. For the cure of phagedsena, a 
^* Not in reality the same plant as the Geranion ; see B. xxiv. c. 97. 
Littre, however, gives the Erodium moschatum of Linnaeus as the synonym 
of this Geranion myrrhis. 
Hence its name, from the Greek yspavogy a crane." 
This kind of Geranion has been identified with the Geranium moUe, 
or Erodium malacoides of Linnaeus, the Common dove's-foot crane's bill. 
^"^ Identified with the Geranium tuberosum of Linnjeus. 
Fee remarks that all his assertions as to the medicinal properties of 
the Geranion are erroneous. 
See B. xxY. c. 39. eo gg^ ^xv. c. 64. 
