Hypecoön[1908] is a plant found growing in corn-fields, with leaves like those of rue. Its properties are similar to those of juice of poppies.
CHAP. 69.—THE IDÆA HERBA, OR PLANT OF IDA: FOUR REMEDIES.
The Idæan[1909] plant has leaves like those of the oxymyrsine;[1910] to which leaves a sort of tendril adheres, that bears a flower. This plant arrests diarrhœa, the catamenia, when in excess, and all kinds of hæmorrhage. It is of an astringent and repercussive nature.
CHAP. 70.—THE ISOPYRON OR PHASIOLON: TWO REMEDIES.
The isopyron[1911] is called “phasiolon” by some, from the circumstance that the leaf of it, which resembles that of anise, assumes a spiral form like the tendrils of the phasiolus.[1912] At the summit of the stem, it bears small heads full of a seed like that of melanthium.[1913] 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 LATHYRIS: TWO REMEDIES.
The lathyris[1914] has numerous leaves like those of the lettuce,[1915] 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[1916] 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.