332 NOTES

ï:4 This may be doubtfully equated with Tussilago farfara, (Latin
fussis, cough), coltsfoot; the dried leaves contain tannin; much
used now by herbalists for tuberculosis and scrofula; sudorific and
resolvent.

ï:'s Haematite stone, 'blood—like stone '(Greek, «æiuar(rgs N(0os),
is a kind of red iron—ore described by Pliny XXXVI. 144. Dioscuri—
des V. 126, says it is a styptic.

ï:6Sgnphgjfum  (Greek c«wuoto, grow together), sometimes
written sinfifos by early herbalists, is discussed by Singer in 7he
Herbal in Antiquity, pp. 43 foll.  His excellent illustrations show
a cabbage—like plant with the synonym *confirma? (Latin confirmare,
hea!, make firm). 'This is not at all like the modern botanist's
Symphytum officinale, commonly ealled 'comfrey', from. confirma.
It was also called consolida. Any identification would therefore
be illusory. Dioscurides I. 28 'gives a description of Syæphy/ton,
cOupvror, otherwise helenion, phlomos, etc., that would suit a cab—
bage—like plant. See Pliny XIV. 108, who gives helenion, symphy—
tum and nectaria as synonyms, and in Book XXVI often recom—
mends syæmphy/fum for various complaints, without describing the
plant. It was, at any rate, a specific of herbal medicine, and was
so called because it was supposed to draw or solder together the
edges of wounds.

ï:?:Pliny XXV. 86 says that the root of consiligo was a new
remedy in his time, prodest deploratis in phihisi. " See also XXVI.
388. It is usually identified with P&wlmonaria officinalis, Läinn. / All
that can be said about the question here raised by Fracastorius
is that the modern botanist's Aegopodium podagraria, Umbellifera,
(goat's—foot—for—gout', sometimes ecalled 'black—root'), has  nine
leaves in triplets, and white flowers of exactly the shape described
in the text.  For enneaphyllon, 'nine—leaved', see Pliny XXVII. 77.

118 Inula, or enula, elecampane, is said by Pliny XIX. 91 to be
per se stomacho inimicissima, though beneficial when modified by
sweet ingredients. It became famous as a tonic ^because the
Empress Julia Augusta took it daily'".  Its use as &a tonic, for coughs
etc. dates from Dioscurides. Perhaps to be identified with 7nula
helenium, Linn., Composita, which is sometimes called üindigenous
quinine'. The root contains an aromatic crystalline substance,
helenin, and 'a white starchy substance, inulin (CGH:oOs)^^;—
Oxford Dictionary.

*Tüxcellent herbs had our fathers of old—
Excellent herbs to ease their pain—
Alexanders and Marigold,

Hyebright, Orris and Elecampane.

Anything green that grew out of the mould
Was an excellent herb to our fathers of old.!
R. Kipling.