CHAP. 20—THE EPHEDRA OR ANABASIS; THREE REMEDIES.

The ephedra,[1] by some persons called "anabasis," mostly grows in localities exposed to the wind. It climbs the trunks of trees, and hangs down from the branches, is destitute of leaves, but has numerous suckers, jointed like a bulrush; the root is of a pale colour. This plant is given, pounded, in astringent red wine, for cough, asthma, and gripings in the bowels. It is administered also in the form of a pottage, to which some wine should be added. For these complaints, gentian is also used, being steeped in water the day before, and then pounded and given in doses of one denarius, in three cyathi of wine.

1. Probably the Equisetum silvaticum of Linnæus, our Wild horse-tail. He is in error in saying that it climbs the trunks of trees a mistake also made by Dioscorides, B. iv. c. 46, who calls it "hippuris." It is said by some to be a strong diuretic. Littré, however, gives as its synonym the Ephedra fragilis of Linnæus.