Ξυρὶς, Iris fœtidissima. Dioscor. iv. 22. Footnote 1248: Πτέρις. Dioscor. iv. 186. Footnote 1249: Dioscor. iii. 163. A plaster of fresh laurel leaves was thought to produce the same effect. i. 106. Footnote 1250: As a protection against musquitos the Greeks we find were accustomed to anoint their bodies with oil which had been flavoured with wormwood. Dioscor. iii. 26. Footnote 1251: Dioscor. i. 13. Footnote 1252: Id. i. 91. 155. Footnote 1253: Id. i. 177. Footnote 1254: Id. ii. 13. Footnote 1255: Id. ii. 12. Footnote 1256: Id. ii. 18. Footnote 1257: Hazelquist, Travels, p. 221. Footnote 1258: Πταρμικὴ. Dioscor. ii. 192. Footnote 1259: Τὰ δὲ ἀπο τῶν καττυμάτων παλαιὰ δέρματα, κεκαυμένα καὶ λεία καταπλασσόμενα, πυρίκαυστα καὶ παρατρίμματα καὶ τὰ ἐξ ὑποδημάτων θλίμματα θεραπεύει. Dioscor. ii. 51. ----- The common remedy when persons had eaten poisonous mushrooms was a dose of nitre exhibited in vinegar and water;[1260] with water it was esteemed a cure for the sting of the burncow, and with benzoin it operated as an antidote against the poison of bulls’ blood. The seeds of mountain-rue, in small quantities, were regarded as an antidote, but, administered too copiously, were themselves lethal.[1261] White hellebore was employed with honey and other medicines to poison rats;[1262] bastard saffron,[1263] mice, pigs, and dogs; which last were physicked with hellebore.[1264] The deadly qualities of this plant, when taken in any quantity, were universally known, and, therefore, the pharmacopolist, Thrasyas,[1265] of Mantinea, who boasted of having invented a poison which would kill without pain, attained the credit of possessing something like miraculous powers, because he used frequently, in the presence of many witnesses to eat a whole root, or even two, of hellebore. One day, however, a shepherd, coming into his shop, utterly destroyed his reputation; for, in the sight of all present, he devoured a whole handful, observing that it was nothing at all, for that he and his brethren on the mountains were accustomed to do as much, and more, daily.[1266] They had, in fact, discovered, that medicine is no medicine, and poison no poison, to those with whose bodies they have been assimilated by use. When limbs were to be amputated, and previous to the application of the cautery, a dose of powdered mandragora-root was usually administered. ----- Footnote 1260: Dioscor. v. 130. Footnote 1261: Id. iii. 53. Footnote 1262: Dioscor. iv. 150. Footnote 1263: Χαμαιλέων λευκὸς ... ἀποκτείνει καὶ κύνας καὶ ὗας καὶ μύας, σὺν ἀλφίτῳ πεφυραμένη, καὶ ὑδρελαίῳ διεθεῖσα. Dioscor. iii. 10. Footnote 1264: Theoph. Hist. Plant. ix. 8. 4. Footnote 1265: Theophrast. Hist. Plant. ix. 16. 7, seq. Cf. Sext. Empir. Pyrrh. Hypot. l. i. p. 17. b. Footnote 1266: Theoph. Hist. Plant. ix. 17. 1. -----