SIX REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THE ANTHYLLIUM OR ANTHYLLUM

Latine · Mayhoff 1906

Anthalii, quod Aegyptii edunt, nullum alium reperi usum. sed est herba anthyllium, quam alii anthyllum vocant, duorum generum: foliis et ramis lenticulae similis, palmi altitudine, sabulosis, apricis nascens, subsalsa gustanti; altera chamaepityi similis, brevior et hirsutior, purpurei floris, odore gravis, in saxosis nascens. prior vulvis aptissima, ex rosaceo ac lacte inposita, et vulneribus. bibitur in stranguria reniumque harenis tribus drachmis. altera bibitur in duritia vulvarum et in torminibus et in comitiali morbo cum melle et aceto quattuor drachmis.

English · Bostock & Riley 1855–57

The people of Egypt eat the anthalium, but I cannot find that they make any other use of it; but there is another plant called the “anthyllium,” or, by some persons, the “anthyllum,” of which there are two kinds: one, similar in its leaves and branches to the lentil, a palm in height, growing in sandy soils exposed to the sun, and of a somewhat saltish taste; the other, bearing a strong resemblance to the chamæpitys, but smaller and more downy, with a purple flower, a strong smell, and growing in stony spots.

The first kind, mixed with rose-oil and applied with milk, is extremely good for affections of the uterus and all kinds of sores: it is taken as a potion for strangury and gravel in the kidneys, in doses of three drachmæ. The other kind is taken in drink, with oxymel, in doses of four drachmæ, for indurations of the uterus, gripings of the bowels, and epilepsy.