THE CHAMÆLEON, IXIAS, ULOPHONON, OR CYNOZOLON; TWO VARIETIES OF IT: TWELVE REMEDIES

Latine · Mayhoff 1906

Chamaeleonem aliqui ixian vocant. duo genera eius: candidior asperiora habet folia, serpit in terra echini modo spinas erigens, radice dulci, odore gravi. quibusdam in locis viscum gignit album sub alis foliorum, maxime circa canis ortum, quo modo tura nasci dicuntur, unde et ixia appellatur. hac mastiche utuntur mulieres. quare et chamaeleon vocetur, varietate foliorum evenit; mutat enim cum terra colores, hic niger, illic viridis, aliubi cyaneus, aliubi croceus atque aliis coloribus. ex his candidus hydropicos sanat suco radicis decoctae; bibitur drachma in passo. pellit et interaneorum animalia acetabuli mensura suci eiusdem in vino austero cum origani scopis. facitad difficultatem urinae. hic sucus occidit et canes suesque in polenta addita aqua et oleo, contrahit in se mures ac necat, nisi protinus aquam sorbeant. radicem eius aliqui concisam servari iubent funiculis pendentem decoquereque in cibo contra fluctiones, quas Graeci rheumatismos vocant. ex nigris aliqui marem dixere, cui flos purpureus esset, et feminam, cui violaceus; set una nascuntur caule cubitali, crassitudine digitali. radicibus eorum lichenes curantur cum sulpure et bitumine una coctis, conmanducatis vero dentes mobiles aut in aceto decoctis. suco scabiem et quadripedum sanant. et ricinos canum necat, iuvencos quoque anginae modo, quare a quibusdam ulophyton vocatur, set et cynozolon propter gravitatem odoris. ferunt et haec viscum ulceribus utilissimum. omnium autem generum eorum radices scorpionibus adversantur.

English · Bostock & Riley 1855–57

The chamæleon is spoken of as the “ixias,” by some authors. There are two species of this plant; the white kind has a rougher leaf than the other, and creeps along the ground, erecting its prickles like the quills of a hedgehog; the root of it is sweet, and the odour very powerful. In some places it secretes, just as they say incense is produced, a white viscous substance beneath the axils of the leaves, about the rising of the Dog-star more particularly. To this viscous nature it owes its name of “ixias;” females make use of it as a substitute for mastich. As to its name of “chamæleon,” that is given to it from the varying tints of the leaves; for it changes its colours, in fact, just according to the soil, being black in one place, green in another, blue in a third, yellow elsewhere, and of various other colours as well.

A decoction of the root of the white chamæleon is employed for the cure of dropsy, being taken in doses of one drachma in raisin wine. This decoction, taken in doses of one acetabulum, in astringent wine, with some sprigs of origanum in it, has the effect of expelling intestinal worms: it is good, too, as a diuretic. Mixed with polenta, the juice of it will kill dogs and swine; with the addition of water and oil, it will attract mice to it and destroy them, unless they immediately drink water to counteract its effects. Some persons recommend the root of it to be kept, cut in small pieces, and suspended from the ceiling; when wanted, it must be boiled and taken with the food, for the cure of those fluxes to which the Greeks have given the name of “rheumatismi.”

In reference to the dark kind, some writers say that the one which bears a purple flower is the male, and that with a violet flower, the female. They grow together, upon a stem, a cubit in length, and a finger in thickness. The root of these plants, boiled with sulphur and bitumen, is employed for the cure of lichens; and they are chewed, or a decoction of them made in vinegar, to fasten loose teeth. The juice of them is employed for the cure of scab in animals, and it has the property of killing ticks upon dogs. Upon steers it takes effect like a sort of quinsy; from which circumstance it has received the name of “ulophonon” from some, as also that of cynozolon from its offensive smell. These plants produce also a viscus, which is a most excellent remedy for ulcers. The roots of all the different kinds are an antidote to the sting of the scorpion.