Entire nations, too, have been the discoverers of certain plants. The Scythæ were the first to discover the plant known as “scythice,”[693] which grows in the vicinity of the Palus[694] Mæotis. Among its other properties, this plant is remarkably sweet, and extremely useful for the affection known as “asthma.” It is also possessed of another great recommendation—so long as a person keeps it in his month, he will never[695] experience hunger or thirst.
CHAP. 44.—THE HIPPACE: THREE REMEDIES.
The hippace,[696] another plant that grows in Scythia, is possessed of similar properties: it owes[697] its name to the circumstance that it produces the like effect upon horses. By the aid of these two plants, the Scythæ, they say, are enabled to endure hunger and thirst, so long as twelve days even.
CHAP. 45.—THE ISCHÆMON: TWO REMEDIES.
The Thracians were the first to discover the ischæmon,[698] which, it is said, has the property of stanching the flow of blood, not only when a vein has been opened, but when it has been cut asunder even. This is a creeping plant; it is like millet in appearance, and the leaves of it are rough and lanuginous. It is used as a plug[699] for the nostrils. The kind that grows in Italy, attached to the body as an amulet, has the property of arresting hæmorrhage.
CHAP. 46.—THE CESTROS, PSYCHOTROPHON, VETTONICA, OR SERRATULA: FORTY-EIGHT REMEDIES.
The Vettones, a people of Spain, were the original discoverers of the plant known as the “vettonica”[700] in Gaul, the “serratula”[701] in Italy, and the “cestros” or “psychotrophon”[702] in Greece. This is a plant more highly esteemed than any other: it puts forth an angular stem two cubits in height, and throws out leaves from the root, with serrated edges, and closely resembling those of lapathum.[703] The seed of it is purple: the leaves are dried and powdered, and used for numerous purposes. There is a wine also prepared from it, and a vinegar, remarkably beneficial to the stomach and the eyesight. Indeed, this plant enjoys so extraordinary a reputation, that it is a common belief even that the house which contains it is insured against misfortunes of every kind.
CHAP. 47.—THE CANTABRICA: TWO REMEDIES.
In Spain, too, is found the cantabrica,[704] which was first discovered by the nation of the Cantabri in the time of the late Emperor Augustus. It grows everywhere in those parts, having a stem like that of the bulrush, a foot in height, and bearing small oblong flowers, like a calathus[705] in shape, and enclosing an extremely diminutive seed.
Nor indeed, in other respects, have the people of Spain been wanting in their researches into the nature of plants; for at the present day even it is the custom in that country, at their more jovial entertainments, to use a drink called the hundred-plant drink, combined with a proportion of honied wine; it being their belief, that the wine is rendered more wholesome and agreeable by the admixture of these plants. It still remains unknown to us, what these different plants are, or in what number exactly they are used: as to this last question, however, we may form some conclusion from the name that is given to the beverage.