Research source

The same animal, too, on finding its sight weakened during its winter retreat, anoints and refreshes its eyes…

Date of account: Published 1890
Source: Curious Creatures in Zoology
Reference: Curious Creatures in Zoology · selected passage 35
Rights: public_domain
Language: English
Record updated: 2026-08-24

Record summary

The same animal, too, on finding its sight weakened during its winter retreat, anoints and refreshes its eyes by rubbing itself on the plant called fennel, or marathrum; but, if any of the scales are slow in coming off, it rubs itself against the thorns of the juniper

Published source text

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Source passage

Source text · mention only

The same animal, too, on finding its sight weakened during its winter retreat, anoints and refreshes its eyes by rubbing itself on the plant called _fennel_, or _marathrum_; but, if any of the scales are slow in coming off, it rubs itself against the thorns of the _juniper_. The dragon relieves the nausea which affects it in spring, with the juices of the _lettuce_. The barbarous nations go to hunt the panther, provided with meat that has been rubbed with _Aconite_, which is a poison. Immediately on eating it, compression of the throat overtakes them, from which circumstance it is, that the plant has received the name of _pardalianches_ (_pard-strangler_).

Historical context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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Modern context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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