Chap. 4.J 
AGEEATOIT. 
221 
that it is called aconitum," there being not so much as dust 
even about it to conduce to its nutriment. Such is the reason 
given for its name by some : but according to others, it re- 
ceives this appellation from the fact that it fatally exercises the 
same effects upon the body that the whetstone does upon the 
edge of iron, being no sooner employed than its effects are felt, 
CHAP. 3. (4.) -^THIOPIS : FOUE REMEDIES. 
u^thiopis^^ is a plant with leaves resembling those of phlo- 
mos,*^ large, numerous, hairy, and springing from the root. 
The stem is square, rough, similar to that of arction^^* in ap- 
pearance, and with numerous axillary concavities. The seed 
resembles that of the fitch, being white and twofold ; the roots 
are several in number, long, fleshy, soft, and of a viscous taste ; 
when dry they turn black and hard, and might easily be taken 
for horns. In addition to JEthiopia, this plant grows upon 
Mount Ida in Troas, and in Messenia. The roots are gathered 
in autumn, and left to dry for some days in the sun, to prevent 
them from turning mouldy. Taken in white wine they are 
curative of affections of the uterus, and a decoction of them 
is administered for sciatica, pleurisy, and eruptions of the 
throat. The kind, however, which comes from Ethiopia, is 
by far the best, and gives instantaneous relief. 
CHAP. 4. AGERATON : E0T7E REMEDIES. 
Ageraton^^ is a ferulaceous plant, a couple of palms in height, 
similar to origanum^^ in appearance, and bearing flowers like 
balls of gold. Used as a fumigation, this plant acts as a 
diuretic ; and as a detergent upon the uterus, when used in a 
sitting bath more particularly. Its name has been given to it, 
from the circumstance that it keeps a very long time without 
fading. 
23 Also called aKovi], 
2* Generally identified with the Salvia argentea of Linnaeus, Silver sage, 
or else with the Salvia -^thiopis, "Woolly sage. It must not be confounded 
with the plant of the same name mentioned in B. xxiv. c. 102. 
25 See B. XXV. c. 73. 
See c. 16 of this Book. 
26 " Not growing old." It is identified by Fee and Desfontaines with 
the Achillaea ageratum of Linnseus, Sweet milfoil or Maudlin. Littre 
gives as its synonym, the Hypericum origanifolium, 
27 See B. XX. c. 67. 
