ABSTRACT
HEREmustbementionedtwoworkswhich,though notHerbalsinthetruesenseoftheword,maybe regardedassuch,viz.theDeReRustica,whichin itsearliestformwaswrittenbyMARCIUSPoRcius CATOCENSORINus(B.c.234-149),andthelengthy workon"RemediesderivedfromtheGardenPlants" whichfillBooksXX-XXVofPliny'sNaturalHistory. Cato'sworkcontainsaconsiderablenumberofnative medicalprescriptionsofanold-fashionedcharacter, andthemagicalspellsorsongswhichweretobe chantedwhilstthemedicineswerebeingadministered, e.g."Huat,hanat,ista,pista,sista,damniatodamnaustra."Thefollowingextractwillgiveanideaof thecharacterofPliny'sHerbal.
