We have already[1779] spoken, when treating of the garden plants, of the cultivation of the thistle; we may as well, therefore, not delay to mention its medicinal properties. Of wild thistles there are two varieties; one[1780] of which throws out numerous stalks immediately it leaves the ground, the other[1781] being thicker, and having but a single stem. They have, both of them, a few leaves only, and covered with prickles, the head of the plant being protected by thorny points: the last mentioned, however, puts forth in the middle of these points a purple blossom, which turns white with great rapidity, and is carried off by the wind; the Greeks give it the name of “scolymos.” This plant, gathered before it blossoms, and beaten up and subjected to pressure, produces a juice, which, applied to the head, makes the hair grow again when it has fallen off through alopecy. The root of either kind, boiled in water, creates thirst, it is said, in those who drink it. It strengthens the stomach also, and if we are to believe what is said, has some influence upon the womb in promoting the conception of male offspring: at all events, Glaucias, who seems to have paid the most attention to the subject, has written to that effect. The thin juice, like mastich, which exudes from these plants, imparts sweetness to the breath. CHAP. 100. (24.)—THE COMPOSITION OF THERIACA. But as we are now about to leave the garden plants, we will take this opportunity of describing a very famous preparation extracted from them as an antidote against the stings of all kinds of venomous animals: it is inscribed in verse[1782] upon a stone in the Temple of Æsculapius at Cos. Take two denarii of wild thyme, and the same quantity of opopanax and meum respectively; one denarius of trefoil seed; and of aniseed, fennel-seed, ammi, and parsley, six denarii respectively, with twelve denarii of meal of fitches. Heat up these ingredients together, and pass them through a sieve; after which they must be kneaded with the best wine that can be had, and then made into lozenges of one victoriatus[1783] each: one of these is to be given to the patient, steeped in three cyathi of wine. King Antiochus[1784] the Great, it is said, employed this theriaca[1785] against all kinds of venomous animals, the asp excepted. SUMMARY.—Remarkable facts, narratives, and observations, one thousand, five hundred, and six. ROMAN AUTHORS QUOTED.—Cato[1786] the Censor, M. Varro,[1787] Pompeius Lenæus,[1788] C. Valgius,[1789] Hyginus,[1790] Sextius Niger[1791] who wrote in Greek, Julius Bassus[1792] who wrote in Greek, Celsus,[1793] Antonius Castor.[1794] FOREIGN AUTHORS QUOTED.—Democritus,[1795] Theophrastus,[1796] Orpheus,[1797] Menander[1798] who wrote the “Biochresta,” Pythagoras,[1799] Nicander.[1800]