MEDICINE, PAGE 5

The weasel restores its strength with Rue original: "Ruta" when hunting mice, after being exhausted by the struggle with them. A The Stork uses Oregano, and the Boar treats itself with Ivy when sick, as well as by eating crabs, especially those washed up by the sea. The Snake, after its winter sluggishness, sheds that obstruction of its scales with the juice of Fennel, and thus emerges more brightly in the spring. Likewise, when its sight is obscured by its winter hiding place, it rubs itself against the Fennel herb original: "Marathro," the Greek name for fennel to anoint and restore its eyes; but if its scales have become numb and stiff, it scratches itself on the thorns of the Juniper.

The Dragon Often used in ancient texts to refer to large serpents or pythons restrains its springtime nausea with the juice of Wild Lettuce. Barbarians hunt Panthers by rubbing meat with Aconite (which is a poison); a choking sensation immediately seizes their throats, which is why some have called that poison Pardalianches Greek for "panther-strangler". But this wild beast, in contrast, heals itself with human excrement; and it is otherwise so greedy for it that if it is hung in a vessel by shepherds on purpose—higher than the beast can reach by jumping—the panther eventually expires, exhausted from leaping and seeking it. Otherwise, it is of such slow vitality meaning "hard to kill" that it will continue to fight for a long time even after its intestines have been cast out.

The Elephant, having devoured the leaves of the Chameleon plant likely Chamaeleon albus which match its color, uses this to counter the poison of the Wild Olive. When Bears have tasted the fruit of the Mandrake, they lick up ants. The Stag resists poisonous fodder with the herb Cinnare. Woodpigeons, jackdaws, blackbirds, and partridges purge their annual sluggishness with the leaf of the Laurel; Doves, turtledoves, and chickens use the herb called Pellitory original: "Helxine". Ducks, geese, and other aquatic birds use the herb Ironwort original: "Siderite". Cranes and similar birds use the Marsh Rush. The Raven, after killing a Chameleon—which is harmful even to its victor—extinguishes the deadly venom with Laurel. B Aelian Thus far Pliny's accounts. Aelian, subscribing to this, says that Boars are weakened and seized by convulsions from eating the Henbane herb; but they know the remedy, for they immediately go to the water or hunt for crabs, clearly indicating that a herb which is not beneficial to man can still exist as a remedy for them.

It remains for us to assign the authors to these plants, lest the study of herbs be thought a matter of no value, celebrated as it has been by such distinguished, learned, and ancient men. First, there once existed a volume by King Juba about the herb Euphorbia. Themison extolled the herb Plantain original: "Plantagine", which is not so common a plant but that it is endowed with innumerable uses. Polion Musaeus and Hesiod wrote of it, and Pythagoras wrote of the Squill original: "Scylla", as did Chrysippus of Cabbage. Dieuches and Cato wrote of the same, as did the whole of Ionia, to the point that they even swore public oaths by it. Zeno of the Stoic school wrote of the Caper; Antinomachus of Athens of Tree Medick original: "Cytisum"; the Greek Morchion of the Radish; and Apuleius of Betony. Virgil wrote of Ebony; Erasistratus of Loosestrife original: "Lysimachiam". Cato wrote of Olive Oil Dregs original: "Amurca". Homer wrote of Saffron original: "Crocon", the Lotus, and the Hyacinth. Hesiod wrote of Mallow and the White Asphodel original: "Albucum". Archigenes wrote of Castoreum A secretion from beavers used in medicine; Euchronius, Hicefius, Coniades, and Aristomachus wrote of wines and vines. Asclepiades wrote of Chamomile original: "Anthemin," also called "Leucanthemis" or "Chamæmilon". Although many of their works have perished today, it is nonetheless a far better argument that the ancient Philosophers were more deserving in the matter of herbs than we are today—we who are but smoke, and hardly deign to know them. They believed there was so much power in plants that they could scarcely suffice to describe even a few. Pliny also recounts many of these in Book 25, Chapter 2 of his history, whom we shall omit here, lest we be too long...