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CHAP. 59. (10).—GLAUCION: THREE REMEDIES. DIAGLAUCIA: TWO REMEDIES.

Glaucion1 grows in Syria and Parthia; it is a plant of stunted growth, and thickly covered with leaves, like those of the Poppy in appearance, only smaller and of a more repulsive aspect: it has an offensive smell, and a bitter, astringent taste. The seed, which is of a saffron colour, is put into a vessel coatd with potter's clay, and heated in an oven; when taken out, a juice2 is extracted, which is known by the same name as the plant. This juice and the leaves, bruised, are used for defluxins of the eyes, which disappear in an instant, under this treatment: an eye-salve, too, is prepared from the juice, known as "diaglaucia," to medical men. The milk, when the secretion of it is stopped, is restored by the agency of this plant, for which purpose it is taken in water.

1 See B. xx. c. 78, where a similar plant is mentioned. Fée identifies this ant with the Glaucium hybridum, or Chelidonium of Linnæus, the Vilet-coloured celandine, or horned poppy. Littré gives the Glaucium <*>vum of Linnæus as its synonym.

2 Tis is a yellow, acrid, caustic juice; it is no longer used in medicine.

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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