Chap. 91.] 
THE .POLXaONOS, 
259 
CHAP. 91. — THE POLYGONOS, POLYaONATOS, TEUTHALTS, CAECI- 
NETHRON", CLEMA, OR MYRTOPETALOS, OTHERWISE XNOWN AS 
SANGTTINARIA OR ORIOS : FOUR VARIETIES OP IT : PORTY 
REMEDIES. 
The Greeks give the name of polygonos"^^ to the plant 
known to us as sanguinaria."^^ It is but little elevated above 
the ground, has leaves like those of rue, and resembles grass 
in appearance. The juice of it, injected into the nostrils, 
arrests haemorrhage : taken with wine, it has a similar effect 
upon bleeding at any other part of the body, as also spitting 
of blood. Those who distinguish several kinds of polj^gonos, 
make this to be the male^"* plant, and say that it is so called 
from the large number of seeds, or else from its numerous 
branches. Some call it ^' polygonatos,*'^^ from the number of 
its joints, others, again, teuthalis,'^ and others, carcine- 
thron," clema," or myrtopetalos." 
There are some authorities to be found, however, who say that 
this is the female plant, and that the male is more diminutive, 
less swarthy, and more jointed, with a seed protruding beneath 
all the leaves. However this may be, these plants are of an 
astringent, cooling nature. The seed is laxative, and, taken in 
large doses, acts as a diuretic, and arrests defluxions; indeed, 
if there is no defluxion, it is of no use taking it. For burning 
heats of the stomach, the leaves are applied topically ; and they 
are used, in the form of a liniment, for pains in the bladder, and 
for erysipelas. The juice is used as an injection for suppurations 
of the ears, and by itself, for pains in the eyes. It is admi- 
nistered, also, in fevers, tertian and quartan fevers more par- 
ticularly, in doses of two cyathi, just before the paroxysms 
come on ; as also in cases of cholera, dysentery, and derange- 
ment of the stomach. 
There is a third kind, which grows on the mountains, and is 
known as **orios,"^^ similar to a delicate reed in appearance, and 
52 « Many-seeded." a Blood plant." 
^ Identified by Fee with the Polygonum aviculare of Linnaeus, tlie 
Knot-grass. 
5^ " Many-knotted.'* Scribonius says that it received its name, *'poly- 
gonos," from i1;s being found everywhere. 
5s Or " mountain " plant. Fee considers it to be the same as the 
second kind above mentioned, and to correspond with the female Polygonos 
of Dioscorides. He identifies it with the Hippuris vulgaris of Linnaeus, 
s 2 
