The lycapsos[1917] has longer and thicker leaves than those of the lettuce,[1918] and a long, hairy stem, with numerous offshoots a cubit in length; the flower is diminutive, and of a purple colour; it grows in champaign localities. In combination with barley-meal, it is used as an application for erysipelas: the juice of it, mixed with warm water, is employed as a sudorific, in fevers.
CHAP. 74.—THE LITHOSPERMUM, EXONYCHON, DIOSPYRON, OR HERACLEOS: TWO REMEDIES.
Among all the plants, however, there is none of a more marvellous nature than the lithospermum,[1919] sometimes called “exonychon,” “diospyron,”[1920] or “heracleos.” It is about five inches in height, with leaves twice the size of those of rue, and small ligneous branches, about the thickness of a rush. It bears close to the leaves a sort of fine beard or spike, standing by itself, on the extremity of which there are small white stones, as round as a pearl, about the size of a chick-pea, and as hard as a pebble. These stones,[1921] at the part where they adhere to the stalk, have a small cavity, and contain a seed within.
This plant is found in Italy, no doubt, but that of Crete is the most esteemed. Among all the plants, there is none that I ever contemplated with greater admiration than this; so beauteous is the conformation, that it might be fancied that the hand of an artist[1922] had arranged a row of lustrous pearls alternately among the leaves; so exquisite too the nicety in thus making a stone to grow upon a plant! The authorities say that this is a creeping plant, and that it lies upon the ground; but for my own part, I have only seen it when plucked, and not while growing. It is well known that these small stones, taken in doses of one drachma, in white wine, break and expel urinary calculi,[1923] and are curative of strangury. Indeed, there is no plant that so instantaneously proclaims, at the mere sight of it, the medicinal purposes for which it was originally intended; the appearance of it, too, is such, that it can be immediately recognized, without the necessity of having recourse to any botanical authority.
CHAP. 75.—LAPIDIS MUSCUS, OR STONE MOSS: ONE REMEDY.
There grows near running streams, a dry, white moss,[1924] upon ordinary stones. One of these stones, with the addition of human saliva, is rubbed against another; after which the first stone is used for touching impetigo,[1925] the party so doing uttering these words:—
Φεύγετε κανθαρίδες, λύκος ἄγριος αἷμα διώκει
“Cantharides[1926] begone, a wild wolf seeks your blood.”[1927]
CHAP. 76.—THE LIMEUM: ONE REMEDY.
Limeum[1928] is the name given by the Gauls to a plant, in a preparation of which, known to them as “deer’s[1929] poison,” they dip their arrows[1930] when hunting. To three modii of salivating mixture[1931] they put as much of the plant as is used for poisoning a single arrow; and a mess of it is passed down the throat, in cases where oxen are suffering from disease, due care being taken to keep them fastened to the manger till they have been purged, as they are generally rendered frantic by the dose. In case perspiration supervenes, they are drenched all over with cold water.