Pliny: Natural History
scabritias sanat ex passo tribus obolis potis trita aut decoctum eius. lichenas quoque ex aceto inposita purgat. bibitur contra inflationes et perfrictiones, febres frigidas, singultus, tormina, herpetas, capitis gravitates, melancholicas vertigines, lassitudinum dolores et convolsiones.
131CVI. Circa Ariminum nota est herba quam resedam vocant. discutit collectiones inflammationesque omnes. qui curant ea addunt haec verba:
Reseda, morbis reseda, scisne, scisne quis hic pullus egerit radices? nec caput nec pedes habeat.
haec ter dicunt totiensque despuunt.
CVII. Stoechas in insulis tantum eiusdem nominis gignitur, odorata herba coma hysopi, amara gustu. menses ciet potu, pectoris dolores levat. antidotis quoque miscetur.
132CVIII. Solanum Graeci στρυχνόν vocant, ut tradit Cornelius Celsus. huic vis reprimendi refrigerandique.
133CIX. Smyrnion caulem habet apii, folia latiora et maxime circa stolones multos quorum a sinu exiliunt, pinguia et ad terram infracta, odore medicato cum quadam acrimonia iucundo, colore in luteum languescente,
Book XXVII
of the trachea is cured by three-oboli doses of it pounded and taken in raisin wine, or by its decoction. Lichen also is cleared away by an application of the root in vinegar. It is taken in drink for flatulence, chills, feverish shivers, hiccough, colic, herpes, heaviness of the head, bilious giddiness, tired pains, and sprains.
CVI. Around Ariminum is well known the plantReseda. called reseda. It disperses all gatherings and inflammations. Those who use it in treatment add these words:
Reseda, allaya diseases; Dost know, dost know, what chick here uprooted thee? May he have neither head nor feet.
They say these words three times, and spit three times on the ground.
CVII. Stoechas grows only in the islands of theStoechas. same name, a fragrant plant with the foliage of hyssopb and a bitter taste. Taken in drink it is an emmenagogue, and relieves pains in the chest. It is also an ingredient of antidotes.
CVIII. Solanum according to Cornelius Celsusc isSolanum. called στρυχνόν by the Greeks. It has repressive and cooling properties.
CIX. Smyrnion has a stem like that of celery,d andSmyrnion. rather broad leaves, which grow mostly about its many shoots, from the curve of which they spring; they are juicy,e bending towards the ground, and with a drug-like smell not unpleasing with a sort of sharpness. The colour shades off to yellow; the heads