[2488] By reason of the luxury and sensuality universally prevalent.
[2489] This is said in bitter irony.
[2490] Trusting to the good faith and research of the physician.
[2491] “Inseruisse.”
[2492] “Amplecti.”
[2493] In the Twentieth Book.
[2494] It has been thought by some that this is the Scolymus maculatus of Linnæus; the spotted yellow thistle. But the more general opinion is that it is the eringo, or Eryngium campestre of Linnæus. It derives its name from the Greek ἐρεύγειν, from its asserted property of dispelling flatulent eructations. It is possessed in reality of few medicinal properties, and is only used occasionally, at the present day, as a diuretic. See B. xxi. c. [56].
[2495] See B. xxvii. c. 2.
[2496] By the word “toxica,” Poinsinet would understand, not poisons in general, but the venom of the toad, which was called, he says, in the Celtic and Celto-Scythic languages, toussac and tossa. Fée ridicules the notion.
[2497] Or rather, Fée says, deep blue. He identifies this with the Eryngium cyaneum of Linnæus, the eringo, with a blue flower.