252 
Pliny's fatijral history. 
[Book XXVII. 
the summit of the stem, it hears small heads full of a seed like 
that of melanthium.* These heads, taken with honey or 
hydromel, are good for cough and other affections of the chest ; 
they are extremely useful also for liver complaints. 
CHAP. 71. THE LATHTRIS: TWO REMEDIES. 
The lathyris^ has numerous leaves like those of the lettuce,^ 
with numbers of small buds, in which the seed is contained, 
enclosed in envelopes like that of the caper. When these buds 
are dry, the seeds, about the size of a peppercorn, are taken out : 
they are white, sweet, and easily cleansed from the husk. 
Twenty of them, taken in pure water or in hydromel, are 
curative of dropsy, and carry off bile. Persons who require a 
stronger purgative, take them with the husks on. They are 
apt, however, to be injurious to the stomach ; for which reason 
a plan has been adopted of taking them with fish or else 
chicken broth. 
CHAP. 72. THE LEONTOPETALON OR PARDALION *. TWO REMEDIES. 
The leontopetalon''' is called pardalion'' by some : it has a 
leaf like that of the cabbage, and a stem half a foot in height, 
with numerous lateral branches, and a seed at the extremities 
of them, enclosed in pods like those of the chick-pea. The root 
resembles that of rape, and is large and black : it grows in 
plough lands. The root, taken in wine, neutralizes the venom 
of all kinds of serpents ; indeed, there is nothing known that 
is more speedily efficacious for that purpose. It is given also 
for sciatica. 
CHAP. 73. — THE LYCAPSOS I TWO REMEDIES. 
The lycapsos^ has longer and thicker leaves than those of 
the lettuce,^ and a long, hairy stem, with numerous offshoots a 
4 Or Gith. See B. xx. c. 71. 
5 The Euphorbia lathyris of Linnaeus, the Caper plant, or Caper spurge. 
6 There is no such resemblance, except that they both contain a milky 
juice, the properties of which are, however, very different. It is a plant 
of an energetic and even dangerous nature, and must never be mistaken 
for the real caper. 
7 Mostly thought to be the same plant as the Leontopodium of B. xxvi. c. 
34. Littre, however, identifies it with the Evax pygmaeus of Linnaeus. 
^ Probably the Echium Italicum of Linn^us, Italian viper's tongue. 
^ There is no resemblance between the Echium and the lettuce. 
