228 
PLINT*S NATUEAL HISTOET. [Book XXVII. 
The seed is round, hard, concave, and of a sweetish taste. It 
grows in cornfields, gardens, and meadows, and, by the aid of 
its prickly points, adheres to the clothes. The seed is em- 
ployed to neutralize the venom of serpents, being taken in 
doses of one drachma, in wine : it is useful also for the bite of 
the phalangium.^*^ The leaves, applied topically, arrest hae- 
morrhage from wounds. The juice is used as an injection for 
the ears. 
CHAP. 16. THE AKCTION OE AECTUEUM I FIVE EEMEDIES. 
The arction*^^ is by some called arcturum" in preference : 
the leaves of it are like those of verbascum,^^ except that they 
are ^ore hairy ; the stem is long and soft, and the seed resem- 
bles that of cummin. It grows in rocky localities, and has a 
tender root, white and sweet. A decoction of it is made with 
wine for tooth-ache, being retained for that purpose in the 
mouth. The plant is taken in drink for sciatica and strangury, 
and is applied with wine to burns and chilblains, which are 
fomented also with the root and seed bruised in wine. 
CHAP. 17. — THE ASPLENON OE HEMIONIOIT : TWO EEMEDIES. 
Some persons call the asplenon^^ by the name of ^'hemio- 
nion."^^ It has numerous leaves, a third of a foot in length, 
and a slimy root, pierced with holes like that of fern, w^hite, 
and hairy. It is destitute of stem, flower, and seed,^^ and is 
found growing upon rocks or sheltered damp walls. The most 
approved kind is that of Crete. A decoction of the leaves 
in vinegar, taken in drink for a period of thirty days, will 
See Note 53 above. 
^ Brotero and Linnaeus identify it with the Arctium lappa of Linnaeus, 
the Burdock or clot-burr : Sibthorp with the Conyza Candida, the White 
fleabane : others, again, with the Celsia arcturus of Linnseus, and Sprengel 
with the Yerbascum ferrugineuin of Linnseus, the Ferruginous mullein ; 
between which two last, Fee is unable to decide. 
See B. XXV. c. 73. 
^2 So called from its supposed property of consuming the spleen. It is 
generally identified with the Asplenium ceterach of Linnseus, Spleenwort, 
or miltwaste. The Asplenium hemionitis of Linnaeus, Mule's fern, and 
the Asplenium scolopendrium of Linnaeus, Hart's tongue, have also been 
suggested ; but Fee prefers the first-named plant. 
^3 The " mule's plant." These animals were said to be very fond of it. 
This is incorrect : the Ceterach has a large quantity of seed, but it 
is concealed beneath a kind of downy substance. 
