05-15-2011, 06:04 PM
I’ve just finished a fascinating little book by Ralph Jackson entitled Doctors and Diseases in the Roman Empire. At one point, he mentions this passage in Pliny:
He interprets this malady as scurvy, not caused by the water, and the “Britannica” plant as dock. It rather suprises me that a plant like this could have enough vitamin C to fight scurvy. By chance, has anyone heard of this before?
Quote: Upon one occasion, in his German campaign, Germanicus Caesar had pitched his camp beyond the river Rhenus; the only fresh water to be obtained being that of a single spring in the vicinity of the sea-shore. It was found, however, that within two years the habitual use of this water was productive of loss of the teeth and a total relaxation of the joints of the knees: the names given to these maladies, by medical men, were "stomacace" and "sceloturbe." A remedy for them was discovered, however, in the plant known as the "britannica,"... This plant has dark oblong leaves and a swarthy root: the name given to the flower of it is "vibones," and if it is gathered and eaten before thunder has been heard, it will ensure safety in every respect. The Frisii, a nation then on terms of friendship with us, and within whose territories the Roman army was encamped, pointed out this plant to our soldiers: the name given to it, however, rather surprises me...
Pliny, Natural History, 25.6.3
He interprets this malady as scurvy, not caused by the water, and the “Britannica” plant as dock. It rather suprises me that a plant like this could have enough vitamin C to fight scurvy. By chance, has anyone heard of this before?
David J. Cord
www.davidcord.com
www.davidcord.com