226 
pliny's natural history. 
[Book XXVII. 
of autumn that it is taken up and hung to dry. Used as a 
purgative, it is bruised with the seed, and taken in the morn- 
ing or just after the evening meal, in doses of two drachmae, 
in hydromel, wine, or pure water, the draught amounting to 
one sextarius in all. It carries off bile, and is particularly 
good for sciatica ; but in this last case, caper root must be 
taken with resin the day after, the dose being one drachma, 
to be repeated every four days : after being purged, it is the 
practice for the patient, if in robust health, to take wine, but 
if in a weak state of body, water. It is employed topically, 
also, for gout, burns, and wounds, as it tends to arrest the flow 
of blood. 
CHAP. 11. AMBROSIA, BOTRYS, OR ARTEMISIA: THREE REMEDIES. 
Ambrosia is a vague name, which has fluctuated between 
various plants : there is one,*^ however, which has been more 
particularly designated by this appellation, a branchy, shrub- 
like plant, with a thin stem, some three palms in height ; the 
root of it is one third shorter, and the leaves, towards the lower 
part of the stem, resemble those of rue. Its diminutive 
branches bear a seed which hangs down in clusters, and has a 
vinous smell : hence it is that by some persons the plant is 
called " botrys,"^*^ while to others it is known as artemisia.'' 
The people of Cappadocia use it for garlands. It is employed 
in medicine as a resolvent. 
CHAP, 12. THE ANONIS OR ONONIS: FIVE REMEDIES. 
The anonis,^^ by some called ononis" in preference, is a 
branchy plant, and similar to fenugreek in appearance, except 
that it is more shrub-like and more hairy. It has an agreeable 
smell, and becomes prickly after spring. It is pickled in brine 
for eating. Applied fresh to ulcers, it cauterizes the margins of 
them. For the cure of tooth-ache, the root is boiled in oxy- 
crate : taken in drink, with honey, the root expels urinary calculi. 
Eor epilepsy, it is administered in oxymel, boiled down to one 
half. 
CHAP, 13. THE ANAGYROS OR ACOPON : THREE REMEDIES. 
The anagyros, known to some by the name of aco- 
Identified with the Ambrosia maritima of Linnaeus, the Sea ambrosia. 
The "cluster" plant. It still figures in the Materia Medica. See 
B. XXV. c. 36, and c. 31 of this Book. See B. xxi. c. 58. 
