Chap. 24.] 
ALTJM. 
231 
leaves resembling a cock's comb, a thin stem, and a black seed 
enclosed in pods. Boiled with broken beans and honey, it is 
useful for cough and for films upon the eyes. The seed, too, is 
sprinkled whole into the eyes, and so far is it from injuring 
them, that it attracts and collects the filmy matter. When 
thus used, it changes colour, and from black becomes white, 
gradually swells, and comes out of itself. 
CHAP. 24. (6.) ALUM, ALSO CALLED SYMPHYTON PETRiEON I 
FOURTEEN REMEDIES. 
The plant which we call *'alum,''^^ and which is known to the 
Greeks as " symphyton'^'^ petraeon,'' is similar to cunila bubula*^^ 
in appearance, having a diminutive leaf and three or four 
branches springing from the root, with tops like those of thyme. 
It is a ligneous plant, odoriferous, of a sweet flavour, and pro- 
vocative of saliva : the root of it is long and red. It grows 
upon rocks, to which circumstance it is indebted for its addi- 
tional name of petrseon and is extremely usefuF^ for aficc- 
tions of the sides and kidneys, griping pains in the bowels, 
diseases of the chest and lungs, spitting of blood, and eruptions 
of the fauces. The root is pounded and taken in drink, or else 
a decoction is made of it in wine ; sometimes, also, it is ap- 
plied externally. Chewed, it allays thirst, and is particularly 
refreshing to the pulmonary organs. It is employed topically 
for sprains and contusions, and has a soothing effect upon the 
intestines. 
Cooked upon hot ashes, with the follicules removed, and 
then beaten up with nine peppercorns and taken in water, it 
acts astringently upon the bowels. Tor the cure of wounds it 
7^ Identified by Desfontaines with the Symphytum ojfficinale, or Great 
corafrey. Fee, however, considers it to be the Coris Monspeliensis of Lin- 
naeus, Montpellier coris. Lobel identifies it with the Prunella vulgaris of 
Linnaeus, Common self-heal, and Caesalpinus with the Hyssopus officinalis 
of Linnaeus. See B. xxvi. c. 26. 
Fee reiterates his assertion here that this "rock'* Symphytum is a 
totally different plant from the Symphytum officinale, or Comfrey, though 
they appear to have been generally considered as identical by Scribonius 
Largus, Plinius Valerianus, Apuleius, and other writers. 
See B. xxvi. c. 26. 
This account of its medicinal properties applies properly to the Sym- 
phytum officinale, or Great comfrey, a plant which would appear to have 
been confounded by Pliny with the Alum, if Fee is right in his conjecture. 
