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CHAP. 34.—THE CERATIA: TWO REMEDIES. LEONTOPODION, LEU- CEORON, DORIPETRON, OR THORYBETHRON. LAGOPUS: THREE REMEDIES.

The ceratia1 is a plant with a single2 leaf, and a large knotted root: taken with the food, it is curative of cœliac affections and dysentery.

Leontopodion,3 a plant known also as "leuceoron," "doripetron," or "thorybethron," has a root which acts astringently upon the bowels and carries off bile, being taken in doses of two denarii in hydromel. It grows in champaign localities with a poor soil: the seed, taken in drink, produces night-mare,4 it is said, in the sleep.

Lagopus5 arrests diarrhœa, taken in wine, or, if there are symptoms of fever, in water. This plant is attached to the groin, for tumours in that part of the body: it grows in cornfields. Many persons recommend, in preference to anything else, for desperate cases of dysentery, a decoction of roots of cinquefoil in milk, or else aristolochia,6 in the proportion of one victoriatus7 to three cyathi of wine. In the case of the preparations above-mentioned, which are recommended to be taken warm, it will be the best plan to heat them with a red-hot iron.

On the other hand, again, the juice of the smaller centaury acts as a purgative upon the bowels, and carries off bile, taken, in doses of one drachma, in one hemina of water with a little salt and vinegar. The greater centaury is curative of griping pains in the bowels. Betony, also, has a laxative effect, taken in the proportion of four drachmæ to nine cyathi of hydromel: the same, too, with euphorbia8 or agaric, taken, in doses of two drachmæ, with a little salt, in water, or else in three oboli of honied wine. Cyclaminos,9 also, is a purgative, either taken in water or used as a suppository; the same, too, with chamæ- cissos,10 employed as a suppository. A handful of hyssop, boiled down to one third with salt, or beaten up with oxymel and salt, and applied to the abdomen, promotes pituitous evacuations, and expels intestinal worms. Root also of peu- cedanum11 carries off pituitous humours and bile.

1 Considered by Sprengel to be the Cyclaminos chamæcissos of B. xxv. c. 69, which he identifies with the Convallaria bifolia of Linnæus, the Little lily of the valley, or May lily. Fabius Columna and Brotero consider it to be the Dentaria trifolia, Three-leaved toothwort.

2 This is incorrect, if it is the Lily of the valley.

3 "Lion's paw," "white plant," or "rock-spear." Probably the Leontice leontopetalum of Linnæus, Lion's paw, or Lion's leaf. See B. xxvii. c. 72.

4 "Lymphatica somnia."

5 "Hare's foot." Possibly the Trifolium arvense of Linnæus, Hare's foot trefoil.

6 See B. xxv. c. 54.

7 See Introduction to Vol. III. Fée remarks that none of the assertions in the present Chapter are confirmed by modern experience.

8 See B. xxv. c. 38.

9 See 11. xxv. c. 67.

10 See 13. xxiv. cc. 49, 84, and B. xxv. c. 69.

11 See B. xxv. c. 70.

The Natural History. Pliny the Elder. John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A. London. Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 1855.

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