The Greeks, however, give the general name of “satyrion” to all substances of a stimulating tendency, to the cratægis[1324] for example, the thelygonon,[1325] and the arrenogonon, plants, the seed of which bears a resemblance to the testes.[1326] Persons who carry the pith of branches of tithymalos[1327] about them, are rendered more amorous thereby, it is said. The statements are really incredible, which Theophrastus,[1328] in most cases an author of high authority, makes in relation to this subject; thus, for instance, he says that by the contact only of a certain plant, a man has been enabled, in the sexual congress, to repeat his embraces as many as seventy times even! The name and genus, however, of this plant, he has omitted to mention. CHAP. 64.—REMEDIES FOR THE GOUT AND DISEASES OF THE FEET. Sideritis,[1329] attached to the body as an amulet, reduces varicose veins, and effects a painless cure. Gout used to be an extremely rare disease, not in the times of our fathers and grandfathers only, but within my own memory even. Indeed, it may justly be considered a foreign complaint; for if it had been formerly known in Italy, it would surely have found a Latin name. It should, however, by no means be looked upon as an incurable malady; for before now, in many instances, it has quitted the patient all at once, and still more frequently, a cure has been effected by proper treatment. For the cure of gout, roots of panaces[1330] are used, mixed with raisins; juice of henbane, or the seed, combined with meal; scordion,[1331] taken in vinegar; iberis, as already mentioned;[1332] vervain, beaten up with axle-grease; or root of cyclaminos,[1333] a decoction of which is good also for chilblains. As cooling applications for gout, root of xiphion[1334] is used; seed of psyllion;[1335] hemlock, with litharge or axle-grease; and, at the first symptoms of red gout, or, in other words, hot gout, the plant aizoüm.[1336] For either kind of gout, erigeron,[1337] with axle-grease, is very useful; leaves of plantago, beaten up with a little salt; or argemonia,[1338] pounded with honey. An application of vervain is also remedial, and it is a good plan to soak the feet in a decoction of that plant in water. CHAP. 65. LAPPAGO OR MOLLUGO: ONE REMEDY. ASPERUGO: ONE REMEDY. Lappago[1339] is employed also for this disease; a plant similar to the anagallis,[1340] were it not that it is more branchy, bristling with a greater number of leaves, covered with rugosities, full of a more acrid juice, and possessed of a powerful smell. The kind that resembles anagallis most closely, is known as mollugo.[1341] Asperugo[1342] is a similar plant, only with a more prickly leaf. The juice of the first is taken daily, in doses of one denarius, in two cyathi of wine. CHAP. 66.—PHYCOS THALASSION OR SEA-WEED: THREE VARIETIES OF IT. LAPPA BOARIA.