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of Celsus V. I, Juvenal, and Plutarch, the concrete juice “ opisma” imported according to Dioscorides
from India, or according to Pliny xxvii. 5 the Indian kind is the best (brought of course by way of
India originally from the district around the entrance to the Red Sea) : “ A. officinalis ” was observed
by Forskal p. 73 wild in Yemen and called “ sabr,” from the odour of its juice clearly the source
of the Socotrine aloes of commerce ; this according to Lindley is imported from Bombay and Smyrna,
and “ Mocha aloes and genuine hepalic aloes are supposed to be varieties of the same species.” By
European colonists, the living A. Socotrina was carried from Socotra to the botanic garden at Bombay
(Graham) : from transported specimens is described also by Miller 15, and Woodville pl. 202.
Aloe httorahs of the seashore of peninsular Hindustan. Yielding a good kind of aloes (Drur.),
possibly the “ aloes inthikes ” of Andreas: — A. littoralis was observed by Koenig, and Ainslie, in
Hindustan, the juice of its leaves applied externally in ophthalmia, and by the Mahommedans used for
making ink (Drur.).
Aloe Indica oi ax\d sandy plains of Northwestern Hindustan. Yielding aloes (Drur.), and
perhaps included in the “ aloes inthikes” of Andreas, — and “ aloes indicae ” distinguished by Marcellus
8 : A. Indica, termed “ a. perfoliata ” by Roxburgh, was also seen in Hindustan by Royle.
Althea officinalis of Europe and the adjoining portion of Asia. Called in Britain marsh-mallow
(Prior), in France “ guimauve” (Nugent), in Germany “ eibisch ” (Fraas), in Italy “ bismalva ” or
“ buonvisco ” or “ altea” (Lenz), in Greece “ nërômôlôha ” (Fraa s); in which we recognize the
“ althaia” identified through Syn. Diosc. with the e B I C KO Y whose root is prescribed by Andreas —
(Gal. c. med. gen. vii. 7) : the “ iviskon ” is further identified in Syn. Diosc. with the “ althiôkôn;”
and the “ althaia” is described by Dioscorides as having a stem two cubits high, downy leaves, and
a “ rôthôëithës ” rose-like flower : A. officinalis was observed by Sibthorp, Chaubard, and Fraas,
frequent in marshy situations from the Peloponnesus throughout Greece ; is known to grow also in
Siberia (Pers.). Farther South, seeds of “ althaea” are enumerated by Alpinus as employed medicinally
in Egypt, and the living A. officinalis according to CIot-Bey has been recently introduned.
Westward, the “ hib isco” is described by Virgil eel. ii. 30 to x. 71 as green and slender, furnishing a
switch for driving kids, and woven into wicker baskets “ fiscellam texere ; ” is prescribed by Celsus ;
is identified by Pliny xx. 14 with the “ rriolochen agriam ” by some called “ pistolochiam ; ” and “ agre-
stisque malva” or “ althaea” or “ eviscu s” is mentioned by Macer Floridus; A. officinalis is termed
“ a. Dioscoridis et Plinii ” by Tournefort inst. 97 ; was observed by Lenz in Italy ; and is known to
grow “ near the s e a ” as far as Denmark (fl. Dan. pl. 530, Pers., and Lindl.). Seeds may have
floated across the Atlantic to New England, the plant observed by myself only along salt-marshes:
but clearly by European colonists, was carried to Southeast Australia, where it has become naturalized
(T. Corder, and A. Dec.) ; and to the Mauritius Islands, observed under cultivation by Bojer.
The whole plant, especially the root, yields according to Lindley “ a plentiful tasteless” mucilage,
“ very salutary in cases of irritation,” and “ a favourite medicine with the French.” (See Alcea
acaulis.)
Orchis undulatifolia of the Mediterranean countries. Called in Greece “ sarkinôvôtani ” or
“ oura ton alëpôu ” (Sibth.): the CAPATTIAAA of Andreas, — so called from the many uses of its
root, is identified by Dioscorides with the “ orhis ë të rô s” having oblong “ prasô’’-like leaves curling
at the axil, stems a span high and purplish flowers, and referred here by Fraas : the “ sarapiatha ” is
also mentioned by Aetius : O. undulatifolia was observed by Sibthorp, Chaubard, and Fraas, from
Cyprus to the Peloponnesus, not rare, and the root dried and used for food. Westward, the account
by Pliny xxvi. 62 of the “ serapias” or “ orchis herba” seems chiefly taken from Dioscorides and the
Greek.s: O. undulatifolia is termed “ o. cercopithecum lusitanic.” by Breynius pl. 42, is further identified
by Chaubard with the “ 3d ophrys insectifera” of Linnæus 1343 and “ orchis longicruris ” of
Link ; is known to grow in Portugal (Brot, Pers., and Steud.), and was observed by Bivona ii. pl. 6
in Sicily.
“ 217 B. C .” (Polyb. 81, and Sm. b. d.), attempt to assassinate Ptolemy IV. ; in whicli his physician
Andreas was slain.
Amanita aurantiaca of Europe. Axi edible mushroom caWoà in Piedmont “ bole real,” and the
“ boletos” commended by Glaucias — (Plin. xxii. 47), Asellius Sabinus (Suet. vit. Tiber. 42), and
Apicius, are referred here by Dierbach and others : A. aurantiaca is known to grow in various parts
of Southern Europe.
“ 216 B. C.” (Polyb, and Clint.), the Romans defeated by Hannibal at Cannae. The swords of
the Gallic or French allies of Hannibal are described by Polybius il. 33 as easily bent, and straightened
on the ground under foot; and by Livy xxii. 46, as “ praelongi ac sine mucronibus,” .very long
and not sharp-pointed: swords agreeing with this description, long, straight, double-edged, rounded
at the extremity, and of untempered iron, are found in tombs apparently contemporaneous in Switzerland
and Northern Europe (Troyon p. 347)
After the defeat at Cannae, Q. Fabius Pictor sent by the Romans to consult the .Oracle at Delphi.
His last name Pictor, came from his paintings in the temple to Health (Bryan diet, paint.). He
wrote in both Greek and Latin.
“ 215 B. C.” (Liv., and Clint.), the envoys of Philippus V. of Macedonia, on their way to Hannibal,
captured by tlie Romans.
As early probably as this date, Moschus of Syracuse composing poetry. He was acquainted
with Aristarchus — (Suid.).
Crocus luteus of the East Mediterranean countries. The HANGOIO: KPOKOY of Moschus
ii. 68 — maybe compared: C. luteus is termed “ c. vernus Mæsiacus primus” by Clusius pannon.
22S ; and was observed by Sibthorp near Sestus on the Hellespont. Transported to Britain, is described
by Miller, and in a single park continues growing spontaneously (A. Dec.).
“ 214 B. C. ( = 33d year of Chi-hoarig-ti,” Amyot, and Pauth. p. 222), the Great wall along the
Northern frontier of China commenced. — It was finished in “ ten years.”
“ 213 B. C. ( = 34th year of Chi-hoang-ti,” Pauth. p. 221 to 227), a comet ; and the decree ordering
the destruction o f books throughout the Chinese empire. A t the same time, the minister Li-sse
caused the different kinds of alphabetic characters to be reduced to a single kind, called “ li-chou ; ”
— the same that continues to be employed in Chinese writing.
“ 212 B. C .” (Liv., and Clint.), during the capture of Syracuse by the Romans under Marcellus,
Archimedes at the age of “ seventy-five” slain. The first paintings and statues brought to Rome,
were from the spoils of Syracuse.
“ 209 B. C. = 1st year of Eulh-chi-hoang-ti, of the T h s in ” or Sixth dynasty— (Chinese chron.
table).
“ The same year ( = 453 years after Synmu ” Kaempf. i. 6), death of Sinosikwo in the “ fiftieth”
year of his age ; and arrival in Japan of a colony of Chinese led by a physician.
“ The same y e a r ” (Liv., and Clint.), Tarentum recovered by the Romans under O. Fabius.
Polygonum aviculare of Europe and Northern Asia. Called in Britain knot-grass or swine's
grass, by Treveris grete herbal “ swynel g r a s s ” (Prior), in France “ renouëe” (Nugent), in Germany
“ knoterich” (Grieb): the nOAY fONOY prescribed by Heraclides Tarentinus against blood flowing
from the ear — (Galen comp. med. loc. iii. i), mentioned also by Nicander ther. 901, Magnus of
Philadelphia, and Charixenes, or the “ pôlugônôn arrën” described by Dioscorides as having numerous
slender branches, jointed, creeping on the ground like grass, with fruit at each leaf, is referred
here by writers : P. aviculare was observed by Forskal. Sibthorp, and Chaubard, everywhere in
Greece and on the Greek islands. Farther South, the “ pôlugônôn a rrën ” is identified in the Syn.
Diosc. with the “ thëphin” or “ mëmplrin” of the Egyptians: P aviculare was observed by Hasselquist
in Palestine ; by Delile, around Alexandria in Egypt ; and was received from Abyssinia by
Richard. Westward, the “ ërakléian ” or “ hiliôphullôn” or “ pôlugônôn arrën” is identified in the
Syn. Diosc. with the “ hôulôum” of the Numidians, and “ prôsërpinaka ” or “ saggôuinalis” of the
Romans; the “ herba sanguinalis ” is mentioned by Celsus ii. 33, and Columella vi. 12 and vii. 5;
the “ polygonum,” by Scribonius Largus 46, and is identified by Pliny xxvii. 91 with the “ calligo-
num ” or “ sanguinaria;” P. aviculare is described by Fuchsius 614, Lobel, and Tabernæmontanus,
is known to grow in waste places and along roadsides throughout Europe as far as Lapland (Pers.,
and Wats.). Eastward from Greece, is known to grow in Nepal and throughout Northern Asia
(Wats., and A. Dec.), was observed by Thunberg on the seashore and elsewhere in Japan ; and farther
East, was observed by myself around Chinook villages on the American shore, clearly aboriginally
introduced. By European colonists, was carried lo Iceland and Greenland (Hook., and Wats.),
to New England prior to 1670 (according to Josselyn), but has since multiplied throughout Northeast
America, especially around dwellings and in places that have been trampled on ; and to Southeast
and Southwest Australia, where it has become naturalized (Corder, Drumm., and A . Dec.). According
to Lindley, the “ fruit said to be emetic and cathartic.”
Polygonum maritimum of the seashore of the Mediterranean and North Atlantic : possibly a
distinct species, the stems harder, more or less ascending, and leaves somewhat glaucous. — The
“ karkinêthrôn ” or “ pëthaliôn ” of the Syn. Diosc. may be compared: P. maritimum called “ argentina
” was observed by Forskal, Sibthorp, and Chaubard, in the maritime sands of Cyprus, Crete,
and Greece to the sea of Marmora. Farther South, was observed by Delile on the Mediterranean
border of Egypt near Alexandria ; by myself, on the sea-beach there, the same in every respect as on
the sea-beaches of our Middle States ; is known to grow at intervening stations, as on the Atlantic
shore of Europe, Madeira, the Canaries and Azores (Barrel, pl. 569, Pers., Webb, Wats., and A.
Dec.). In the Southern Hemisphere, observed by J. D. Hooker fl. Ant. ii. p. 340 in Patagonia and
Southern Chili.
Berberís Crética oi the East Mediterranean countries. Called in Greece “ muilkunia” (Sibth.)
or “ mulkini ” or “ ôxuakantha ” (Fraas) ; in wliich we recognize the A Y K I 0 N of Heraclides Tarentinus,—
Celsus v . 28, Scribonius Largus, the juice of a plant growing according to Dioscorides in
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