Note 1298 — BOOK XX. REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THE GARDEN PLANTS.
John Bostock translation
Meaning the juice and seed combined, probably. Fée thinks that it is to this the medicament owes its name, from ἐλαύνω, to “drive” or “impel.” It is much more probable, however, that the medicine was so called from its strong purgative powers; for, as Galen tells us, ἐλατήριον was a name given to purgative medicines in general.