Cliap. 50.] 
THE ELATINE. 
243 
are small heads covered with prickles : it grows in waterj^ 
localities. 
This plant is used for the cure of chaps of the fundament 
and of fistula; in which latter case the root is boiled down in 
wine to the consistency of wax, to allow of its being introduced 
into the fistula in the form of a salve.^^ It is employed, too, 
for the cure of all kinds of warts : as a liniment for which, 
the juice collected in the axils, as above mentioned, is also used 
by some. 
CHAP. 48. THE DKYOPTERIS : TWO EEMEDIES, 
The dryopteris,^^ which resembles fern in appearance, is 
found growing upon trees ; the leaves are of a somewhat sweet- 
ish^^ flavour and marked with slight indentations, and the 
root is hairy. This plant is possessed of caustic properties/^ 
and hence the root is pounded and used as a depilatory. In 
using it the skin is rubbed with it till perspiration is excited, 
the operation being repeated a second and a third time, care 
being taken not to remove the perspiration. 
CHAP. 49. THE DRYOPHONOI^. 
The dryophonon^^ is a similar plant, with thin stems a cubit 
in length, and surrounded on either side with leaves about as 
large as the thumb and like those of the oxymyrsine^*' in ap- 
pearance, only whiter and softer : the blossom is white, and 
similar to that of the elder. The shoots of it are eaten boiled^ 
and the seed is used as a substitute for pepper. 
CHAP. 50. THE ELATINE : TWO EEMEDIES. 
The elatine^^ has leaves like those of the helxine,^^ diminu- 
51 "Collyrii." 
52 The same plant, probably, as tbe Polypodion of B. xxvi. c. 37. Littre, 
however, identifies it with the Asplenium adiantum nigrum of Linnaeus, the 
Elack maiden-hair, or spleen wort. 
53 It is the root that is sweet, and not the leaves. 
5^ It has no such properties. 
55 The " oak-killer." Fee thinks that it may possihly be the Conval- 
laria uniflora of Linnaeus. Desfontaines names the Cochlearia draha, and 
Littre the Lepidium draha of Linnseus. 
56 See B. XV. cc. 7, 37, and B. xxiii, c. 83. 
5"^ Desfontaines and Fee identify it with the Antirrhinum spurium of 
Linnseus, Bastard toad-flax, calves* snout, or snapdragon. Littre gives 
the Linaria Grseca as its synonym. 58 ggg g_ ^^{{^ q ig^ 
Jt 2 
