NOTES 333

iï9 For his general discussion of rabies, see Book II. Ch. 10.

120 It is impossible to decide exactly what he means by serapinum,
here and at page 291, where it is recommended for syphilis. / In the
present passage, Meunier translates ^orchis", connecting it with
the herba orchis or serapias of Pliny XXVI. 95, also called seræption.
But at page 291, he translates *Ammoniaque S6rapis," though the
two words should probably be taken separately (see p. 275). Fournier
there translates "sagap6num'', equating it with the cayarjr»6r of
Dioseurides III. 81, and Pliny XX. 197; the former says that saga—
penum is the gum of a ferula from Media, good for the chest, lungs,
etc.; the latter that its gum resembles that of Hammordacum and
he distinguishes it from sacopenium, found in Italy. Dioscurides,
III. 84 who discusses &uucoma«6v» separately. Seraptum was
the name for a jwscuJum medicum, medicinal broth (öpocaror),
or syrup. /Serapinum drosatum or serapium is deseribed in old
herbals as the gum of a tree found in Greece.

:12: Hfjera. (Qreek, sacred) sc. antidote, is a term for certain medi—
cinal compounds of established fame and often named after their
inventors.

122 J)jacolocynth (Oreek 5.4, with, cp. diascordium) was & eom—
pound containing the dried pulp and seeds of Citrullus colocyn—
ihis (Cucuwmis colocynthis, Linn.), described by Dioscurides IV. 176,
Pliny XX. 14; from the Eastern Mediterranean, Africa etc.; still
used as powder, tincture, and extraet.

:23 Whey, especially from goat's milk, was a common conveyer;
generally used in Burton'!s time, as **the conveyer of diuretica'.

::24Cancer fluvwiatiWs (Astacus fluviatilWis); the tincture of this
animal is now used as an antidote for jaundice etc. by lacquer
workers in the East. Pliny XXXII. 126 foll. recommends cancer
fluviatilis, possibly crayfish, for severa!l ailments.

2$ Alyssum (Greek &Nvccor, against madness. Lyssa is now
a term for rabies).  Pliny describes the plant only once, XXIV. 95,
and says that it is so called **because it prevents one from having
rabies after a dog—bite'.

:6 Alqguascen (alquescem, alquasen, alquescemi, also found) was
a term used by Avicenna and others for abnormal white spots on
the skin. Probably alyssum or a similar plant was prescribed for
these and, as often happens, was given by the Arabians the name of
the disease.

::7 Pliny, cited note 125, does not say this exactly, but only that
alyssum has different leaves and smaller sprigs than madder, which
it otherwise resembles. He speaks of the use of rubia for dyes.
Theophrastus IX. 6 says that cpev9eöa»6r, identified by Hort with
Rubia tinectorum, 'dyer's madder!, has a leaf like ivy, but rounder;
diuretic. The root of this rubia contains a red substance, and its
tincture, tonie, is used for anaemia etc. Here Fracastorius, as
often, is trying to clear up the nomenclature of medicinal plants.

:25 Aparine (Greek) in Theophrastus 7. 8. 1. is identified by Hort