CHAP. 47.—THE CANTABRICA: TWO REMEDIES.
In Spain, too, is found the cantabrica, [Note] which was first dis-
covered by the nation of the Cantabri in the time of the late
Emperor Augustus. It grows everywhere in those parts, having
a stem like that of the bulrush, a foot in height, and bearing
small oblong flowers, like a calathus [Note] in shape, and enclos-
ing an extremely diminutive seed.
Nor indeed, in other respects, have the people of Spain
been wanting in their researches into the nature of plants; for
at the present day even it is the custom in that country, at
their more jovial entertainments, to use a drink called the
hundred-plant drink, combined with a proportion of honied
wine; it being their belief, that the wine is rendered more whole-
some and agreeable by the admixture of these plants. It still
remains unknown to us, what these different plants are, or in
what number exactly they are used: as to this last question,
however, we may form some conclusion from the name that is
given to the beverage.
