REMEDIES FOR DISEASES OF THE BELLY

Latine · Mayhoff 1906

Plurimum tamen homini negotii alvus exhibet, cuius causa maior pars mortalium vivit. alias enim cibos non transmittit, alias non continet, alias non capit, alias non conficit, eoque mores venere, ut homo maxime cibo pereat. pessimum corporum vas instat ut creditor et saepius die appellat. huius gratia praecipue avaritia expetit, huic luxuria condit, huic navigatur ad Phasim, huic profundi vada exquiruntur; et nemo vilitatem eius aestimat consummationis foeditate. ergo numerosissima est circa hanc medicinae opera.

Sistit eam scordotis recens drachma cum vino trita vel decocta potu, Polemonia, quae et dysintericis ex vino datur, verbasci radix pota ex aqua II digitorum magnitudine, nymphaeae Heracliae semen cum vino potum, radix superior e xiphio drachmae pondere ex aceto, semen plantaginis in vino tritum vel ipsa ex aceto cocta aut alica ex suco eius sumpta, item cum lenticula cocta vel aridae farina inspersa potioni cum papavere tosto et trito vel sucus infusus aut potus, Vettonica in vino ferro calefacto. eadem coeliacis in vino austero datur; his et Hiberis inponitur uti dictum est. —Tenesmo radix nymphaeae Heracliae e vino bibitur, psyllium in aqua, acori radicis decoctum. aizoi sucus alvum sistit et dysinterias et taenias rotundas pellit. symphyti radix pota in vino alvum et dysinteriam sistit, item dauci. aizoum foliis contritis ex vino torminibus resistit, alcimae siccae farina torminibus pota cum vino.

Astragalus folia habet longa, incisuris multis obliquis, circa radicem caules III aut III, foliorum plenos, florem hyacinthi, radices villosas, inplicatas, rubras, praeduras. nascitur in petrosis, apricis et isdem nivalibus, sicut in Pheneo Arcadiae. vis ei ad spissanda corpora. alvum sistit radix in vino pota, quo fit ut moveat urinam repercusso liquore, sicut pleraque quae alvum sistunt. sanat et dysintericos in vino rubro tusa; difficile autem tunditur. eadem gingivarum suppurationi utilissima est fotu. colligitur exitu autumni, cum folia amisit; siccatur in umbra.

Et ladano sistitur alvus utroque, quod in segetibus nascitur contuso et cribrato. bibitur ex aqua mulsa, item nobili e vino. ledon appellatur herba, ex qua fit in Cypro barbis caprarum adhaerescens. nobilius in Arabia fit, iam et in Syria atque Africa quod toxicum vocant; nervos enim in arcu circumdatos lanis trahunt adhaerescente roscida lanugine. plura de eo diximus inter unguenta. hoc gravissimum odore est durissimumque tactu. plurimum enim terrae colligit, cum probetur maxime purum, odoratum, molle, viride, resinosum. natura ei molliendi, siccandi, concoquendi, somnum adliciendi. capillum fluentem cohibet nigritiamque custodit, auribus cum hydromelite aut rosaceo infunditur, furfures cutis et manantia ulcera sale addito sanat, tussim veterem cum styrace sumptum, efficacissimum ad ructus.

Alvum sistit et chondris sive pseudodictamnun. —Hypocisthis, orobethron quibusdam dicta, malo granato inmaturo similis, nascitur, ut diximus, sub cistho, unde nomen. haec arefacta in umbra sistit alvum, ex vino nigro austero utraque. duo enim genera eius, candida et rufa. usus in suco: spissat, siccat. et rufa magis stomachi rheumatismos emendat pota III obolis, sanguinis excreationes cum amylo, dysinterias pota et infusa, item verbenaca ex aqua data aut carentibus. febri ex vino Ammineo, cochlearibus v additis in cyvthos III vini.

Laver quoque, nascens in rivis, condita et cocta torminibus medetur, potamogiton vero ex vino dysintericis etiam et coeliacis, similis betae foliis, minor tantum hirsutiorque, paulum semper eminens extra aquam. usus in foliis: refrigerant, spissant, peculiariter cruribus vitiosis utilia et contra ulcerum nomas cum melle vel aceto. Castor hanc aliter noverat, tenui folio velut equinis saetis, thyrso longo et levi, in aquosis nascentem. radice sanabat strumas et duritias. potamogiton adversatur crocodilis; itaque secum habent eam qui venantur. alvum sistit et Achillea. eosdem effectus praestat et statice, VII caulibus veluti rosae capita sustinens.

Ceratia uno folio, radice nodosa et magna, in cibo coeliacis et dysintericis medetur. leontopodion alii leuceoron, alii doripetron, alii thorybethron vocant, cuius radix alvum sistit purgatque bilem, in aquam mulsam addito pondere denariorum II. nascitur in campestri et gracili solo. semen eius potum lymphatica somnia facere dicitur. lagopus sistit alvom e vino pota aut in febri ex aqua. eadem inguini adalligatur in tumore. nascitur in segetibus. multi super omnia laudant ad deploratos dysintericos quinquefolium decoctis in lacte radicibus potis et aristolochiam victoriati pondere in cyathis vini III. quae ex supra dictis calida sumentur, haec candente ferro temperari aptius erit.

E diverso purgat alvum sucus centaurii minoris drachma in hemina aquae cum exiguo salis et aceti bilemque detrahit, maiore tormina discutiuntur. Vettonica alvum solvit drachmis IIII in hydromelitis cyathis VIIII, item Euphorbeum vel agaricum drachmis II cum sale modico potum ex aqua aut in mulso obolis III. solvit et cyclaminos ex aqua pota aut balanis subditis, item chamaecissi balanus. hysopi manipulus decoctus ad tertias cum sale et pituitas trahit vel tritus cum oxymelite et sale pellitque ventris aninmalia. pituitam et bilem detrahit peucedani radix.

Alvum purgant anagallides ex aqua mulsa, item epithymum, qui est flos e thymo satureiae simili. differentia, quod hic herbaceus est, alterius thymi albus; quidam hippopheon vocant. stomacho minus utilis vomitiones movet, sed tormina et inflationes discutit. sumitur et ecligmate ad pectoris vitia cum melle et aliquando iride. alvum solvit a IIII drachmis ad VI cum melle et exiguo salis atque aceti. quidam aliter epithymum tradunt sine radice nasci, tenue, sirailitudine pallioli, rubens, siccari in umbra, bibi ex aqua acetabuli parte dimidia, detrahere pituitam bilemque alvo leniter soluta. et nymphaea in vino austero solvit et pycnocomon, erucae foliis crassioribus et acrioribus, radice rotunda, lutei coloris, terram olente, caule quadriangulo, modico, tenui, flore ocimi. invenitur in saxosis. radix eius in aqua mulsa X II pondere et alvum et bilem et pituitam exinanit; semen somnia tumultuosa facit una drachma in vino potum. et capnos trunca detrahit bilem.

Polypodi, quam nostri feliculam vocant, similis felici, radix in usu, pilosa, coloris intus herbacei, crassitudine digiti minimi, acetabulis cavernosa ceu polyporum cirri, subdulcis, in petris nascens aut sub arboribus vetustis. exprimitur sucus aqua madefactae, et ipsa minute concisa inspergitur oleri vel betae vel malvae vel salsamento aut cum pulticula coquitur ad alvum vel in febri leniter solvendam. detrahit bilem et pituitam, stomachum offendit. aridae farina indita naribus polypum consumit. florem et semen non fert.

Scamonium quoque dissolutione stomachi bilem detrahit, alvum solvit, praeterquam si adiciantur aloes drachmae II obolis eius II. est autem sucus herbae ab radice ramosae, pinguibus foliis, triangulis, albis, radice crassa, madida, nausiosa. nascitur pingui et albo solo. radix circa canis ortum excavatur, ut in ipsam confluat sucus, qui sole siccatus digeritur in pastillos. siccatur et ipsa vel cortex. laudatur natione Colophonium, Mysium, Prienense, specie autem nitidum et quam simillimum taurino glutini, fungosum tenuissimis fistulis, cito liquescens, virus redolens, cumminosum, linguae tactu lactescens, quam levissimum, cum diluatur, albescens. hoc evenit et adulterine, quod fit ervi farina et tithymalli marini suco fere in Iudaea. quod etiam strangulat sumptum. deprehenditur gustu, tithymallus enim linguam excalefacit. usus bimo; nec ante nec postea utile. dedere et per se ex aqua vel mulsa et sale quaternis obolis, sed utilissime cum aloe ita, ut incipiente purgatione mulsum bibatur. fit et decoctum radicis in aceto ad crassitudinem mellis, quo leprae inlinuntur et caput inunguitur in dolore cum oleo.

Tithymallum nostri herbam lactariam vocant, alii lactucam caprinam, narrantque lacte eius inscripto corpore, cum inaruerit, si cinis inspergatur, apparere litteras, et ita quidam adulteras adloqui maluere quam codicillis. genera eius multa. primus cognominatur characias, qui et masculus existimatur, ramis digitali crassitudine, rubris, sucosis, v aut VI, cubitali longitudine, a radice foliis paene oleae, in cacuminibus coma iunci. nascitur in asperis maritimis, legitur semen autumno cum coma, siccatum sole tunditur et reponitur. sucus vero incipiente pomorum lanugine defractis ramis excipitur farina ervi aut ficis, ut cum iis arescat. quinas autem guttas singulis excipi satis est, traduntque totiens purgari hydropicos fico sumpta, quot guttas ea lactis exceperit. sucus cum colligitur, ne attingat oculos, cavendum est. fit et e foliis tunsis priore minus efficax. fit et decoctum e ramis. est et semen in usu cum melle decoctum ad catapotia solvendae alvi gratia. semen et dentium cavis cera includitur. colluuntur et radicis decocto e vino aut oleo. inlinunt et lichenas suco bibuntque eum, ut purget vomitione et alvo soluta, alias stomacho inutilem. trahit pituitam sale addito in potu, bilem aphronitro, si per alvum purgari libeat, in posca, si vomitione, in passo aut aqua mulsa. media potio III obolis datur. ficos a cibo sumpsisse melius est. fauces urit leniter, est enim tam ferventis naturae, ut per se extra corpori inpositus pusulas ignium modo faciat et pro caustico in usu sit. — Alterum genus tithymalli myrtiten vocant, alii caryiten, foliis myrti acutis et pungentibus, sed maioribus, et ipsum in asperis nascens. colliguntur comae eius hordeo turgescente siccataeque in umbra diebus VIIII in sole inarescunt. fructus non pariter maturescit, sed pars anno sequente, et nux vocatur. inde cognomen Graeci dedere. demetitur cum messium maturitate lavaturque, deinde siccatur et datur cum papaveris nigri II partibus ita, ut sit >totum acetabuli modus. minus hic vomito rius quam superior, ceteri item. aliqui sic et folium eius dedere, nucem vero ipsam in mulso aut passo vel sesima. trahit pituitam et bilem per alvum, oris ulcera sanat. ad nomas oris folium cum melle estur.— Tertium genus tithymalli paralium vocatur sive tithymallis folio rotundo, caule palmum alto, ramis rubentibus, semine albo, quod colligitur incipiente uva et siccatum teritur sumiturque acetabuli mensura ad purgationes.— Quartum genus helioscopion appellant, foliis porcillacae, ramulis stantibus a radice IIII aut v rubentibus, semipedali altitudine, suci plenis. hoc circa oppida nascitur, semine albo, columbis gratissimo. nomen accepit, quoniam capita cum sole circumagit. trahit bilem per inferna in oxymelite dimidio acetabulo. ceteri usus qui characiae.— Quintum cyparittian vocant propter foliorum similitudinem, caule gemino aut triplici, nascente m in campestribus. eadem vis quae helioscopio aut characiae.— Sextum platyphyllon vocant, alii corymbiten, alii amygdaliten a similitudine. nec ullius latiora sunt folia. pisces necat. alvum solvit radice vel foliis vel suco in mulso aut aqua mulsa drachmis IIII. detrahit privatim aquas.— Septimum dendroides cognominant, alii cobion, alii leptophyllon, in petris nascens, comosissimum ex omnibus, maximis cauliculis rubentibus et semine copiosissimum, eiusdem effectus cuius characian.

Apios ischas sive raphanos agria, iuncos II aut III spargit in terra rubentes, foliis rutae. radix cepae, sed amplior, quare quidam raphanum silvestrem vocant. intus habet mammam candidam, extra cortices nigros. nascitur in montosis asperis, aliquando et herbosis. effoditur vere tusaque in fictili mergitur, deiectoque quod supernatat reliquus sucus purgat utraque parte sesquiobolo in aqua mulsa. sic et hydropicis datur acetabuli mensura. inspergitur et aridae radicis farina potioni. aiunt superiorem partem eius vomitione biles extrahere, inferiorem per alvum in aqua.

Tormina discutit quodcumque panaces, Vettonica praeterquam a cruditate, peucedani sucus et inflationes, ructus gignens, acori radix, daucum vel si lactucae modo sumatur. ladanum Cyprium potum interaneorum vitiis occurrit, Gentianae farina ex aqua tepida fabae magnitudine, plantago mane sumpta II lingulis et tertia papaveris in vini cyathis IIII non veteris. datur et in somnum euntibus addito nitro vel polenta, si multo post cibum detur. colo infunditur hemina suci vel in febri.

Agaricum potum obolis III in vini veteris cyatho uno lieni medetur, e panace omnium generum radix in mulso, sed Teucria praecipue pota arida et decocta, quantum manus capiat, in aceti heminis III ad heminam. inlinitur eadem ex aceto aut, si tolerari non possit, ex fico vel aqua. Polemonia bibitur ex vino, Vettonica drachma in oxymelitis cyathis III, aristolochia ut contra serpentes. argemonia VII diebus in cibo sumpta lienem consumere dicitur, agaricum in aceto mulso obolis II. nymphaeae Heracliae radix in vino pota et ipsa consumit. cissanthemus drachma bis die sumpta in vini albi cyathis II per dies XL lienem dicitur paulatim emittere per urinam. prodest et hysopum cum fico decoctum, lonchitidisz radix decocta prius quam semen demittat, peucedani quoque radix et lieni et renibus. lien suco acori poto consumitur, praecordiis et ilibus utilissimae radices;.... clymeni semen potum diebus xxx pondere denarii in vino albo, Vettonicae farina ex melle et aceto scillite pota, radix lonchitidis in aqua. Teucrium inlinitur, item scordium cum cera, agaricum cum farina e feno Graeco.

Vesicae malis contraque calculos, gravissimis cruciatibus, ut diximus, auxilio est Polemonia ex vino pota, item agaricum, plantago foliis vel radice potis ex passo, Vettonica ut in iocinere diximus, item ramici pota atque inlita, eadem ad strangurias efficacissima. quidam ad calculos Vettonicam et verbenacam et milifolium aequis portionibus ex aqua pro singulari remedio bibere suadent. strangurias discuti et dictamno certum est, item quinquefolio decocto ad tertias in vino. hoc et enterocelicis dari atque inlini utilissimum est. xiphi quoque radix superior urinam ciet, infantibus enterocelicis datur ex aqua et inlinitur. vesicae vitiis peucedani sucus, infantium ramici et umbilicis eminentibus psyllion inlinitur. urinam cient anagallides, acori radicis decoctum vel ipsa trita potaque et omnia vesicae vitia depellit, calculos et herba et radix cotyledonis itemque genitalium inflammationem omnem pari pondere et caulis et seminis et murrae. ebulum teneris cum foliis tritum ex vino potum calculos pellit, inpositum testes sanat. erigeron quoque cum farina turis et vino dulci testium inflammationes sanat. symphyti radix inlita enterocelas cohibet, genitalium nomas hypocisthis alba. Artemisia quoque datur contra calculos ex vino dulci et ad stranguriam, dolores vesicae sedat ex vino radix nymphaeae Heracliae.

Eadem vis crethmo ab Hippocrate admodum laudatae. est autem inter eas quae eduntur silvestrium herbarum; hanc certe apud Callimachum adponit rustica illa Hecale. species quae elatae hortensiae. caulis unus palmum altus; semen fervens, odoratum ceu libanotidis, rotundum; siccatum rumpitur. habet intus nucleum candidum, quem aliqui cachrym vocant. folia pinguia albicant veluti olivae, crassiora et salsa gustu; radices digiti crassitudine III aut IIII. nascitur in maritimis petrosis. estur cruda coctave cum olere, odorati saporis et iucundi. servatur etiam in muria. praecipue ei usus ad strangurias folio vel caule vel radice ex vino. colorem quoque corporis gratiorem facit, verum largior inflationes. alvum solvit decocto, urinam et a renibus umorem trahit, sicut alcimae siccae farina, e vino pota stranguriae efficacius addito dauco, lieni quoque utilis. adversus serpentes bibitur. iumentis quoque in pituita aut stranguria hordeo inspersa succurrit.

Anthyllion est lenti simillima, quae in vino pota vesicas vitiis liberat, sanguinem sistit. altera anthyllis, chamaepityi similis, flore purpureo, odore gravi, radice intubi, vel magis medetur....

Cepaea, similis porcilacae, nigriore radice, sed inutili, nascens in litoribus harenosis, gustu amara, in vino cum asparagi radice vesicae plurimum prodest. eadem praestat hypericon—alii chamaepityn, alii corissum appellant—, oleraceo frutice, tenui, cubitali, rubente, folio rutae, odore acri, semine in siliqua nigro, maturescente cum hordeo. natura semini spissandi. alvum sistit, urinam ciet, vesicae cum vino bibitur. est aliud hypericon, quod aliqui caron appellant, folio tamaricis —et sub ea nascitur—, sed pinguioribus foliis et minutis, rubentibus, odoratum, palmo altius, suave, leniter acutum. vis semini excalfactoria, et ldeo inflammationem facit, sed stomacho non inutile, praecipuum ad stranguriam, si exulcerata non sit vesica. medetur et pleuriticis ex vino potum, vesicae autem callithrix trita simul cum cumino et data ex vino albo, verbenacaque cum foliis decocta ad tertias vel radix eius e mulso calido calculos eicit; item perpressa, quae Arreti et in Illyrico nascitur, in aqua decocta ex III heminis ad unam pota, trifolium ex vino sumptum et chrysanthemum primum. anthemis quoque calculos eicit, parvis a radice foliis quinis, caulibus longis II, fore roseo, radices tritae per se.... cei, laver crudum.

silaus nascitur glariosis et perennibus rivis, cubitalis apii similitudine. coquitur ut olus acidum, magna utilitate vesicae. quae si scabiem sentiat, panacis radice sanatur, aliter inutilis vesicis.—Calculos pellit malum erraticum radicis libra in congio decocta ad dimidias—inde heminae sumuntur per triduum, relicum ex vino —et urtica marina et daucum et plantaginis semen ex vino et herba Fulviana trita ex vino. et haec nomen inventoris habet, nota tractantibus. urinas ciet scordion, testium tumores sedat hyoscyamum, genitalibus medetur pencedani sucus, ex melle semen, stranguriae agaricum obolis III in vini veteris cyatho uno, trifolii radix drachmis II in vino, dauci una drachma vel seminis.

Ischiadici semine et foliis erythrodani tritis sanantur, panace poto et infricato, Polemonia, aristolochiae decocto folii. agarico quidem et nervus, qui platys appellatur, et umerorum dolor sanatur obolis III in vini veteris cyatho uno poto. quinquefoliumischiadicis et bibitur et inponitur, item scamonia decocta et cum hordei farina. semen hyperici utriusque bibitur ex vino.

Sedis vitia et adtritus celerrime sanat plantago, condylomata quinquefolium, sed ea in callum iam conversa cyclamini radix ex aceto. anagallidum caerulea procidentiam sedis retro agit, e diverso rubens proritat. cotyledon condylomata et haemorrhoidas mire curat, testium tumores acori radix decocta in vino tritaque inlita. intertrigines negat fieri Cato absinthium Ponticum secum habentibus.

English · Bostock & Riley 1855–57

But it is the belly, for the gratification of which the greater part of mankind exist, that causes the most suffering to man. Thus, for instance, at one time it will not allow the aliments to pass, while at another it is unable to retain them. Sometimes, again, it either cannot receive the food, or, if it can, cannot digest it; indeed, such are the excesses practised at the present day, that it is through his aliment, more than anything else, that man hastens his end. This receptacle, more troublesome to us than any other part of the body, is ever craving, like some importunate creditor, and makes its calls repeatedly in the day. It is for its sake, more particularly, that avarice is so insatiate, for its sake that luxury is so refined, for its sake that men voyage to the shores even of the Phasis, for its sake that the very depths of the ocean are ransacked. And yet, with all this, no one ever gives a thought how abject is the condition of this part of our body, how disgusting the results of its action upon what it has received! No wonder then, that the belly should have to be indebted to the aid of medicine in the very highest degree!

Scordotis, fresh-gathered and beaten up, in doses of one drachma, with wine, arrests flux of the bowels; an effect equally produced by a decoction of it taken in drink. Polemonia, too, is given in wine for dysentery, or two fingers’ length of root of verbascum, in water; seed of nymphæa heraclia, in wine; the upper root of xiphion, in doses of one drachma, in vinegar; seed of plantago, beaten, up in wine; plantago itself boiled in vinegar, or else a pottage of alica mixed with the juice of the plant; plantago boiled with lentils; plantago dried and powdered, and sprinkled in drink, with parched poppies pounded; juice of plantago, used as an injection, or taken in drink; or betony taken in wine heated with a red-hot iron. For cœliac affections, betony is taken in astringent wine, or iberis is applied topically, as already stated. For tenesmus, root of nymphæa heraclia is taken in wine, or else psyllion in water, or a decoction of root of acoron. Juice of aizoüm arrests diarrhœa and dysentery, and expels round tape-worm. Root of symphytum, taken in wine, arrests diarrhœa and dysentery, and daucus has a similar effect. Leaves of aizoüm beaten up in wine, and dried alcea powdered and taken in wine, are curative of griping pains in the bowels.

Astragalus is the name of a plant which has long leaves, with numerous incisions, and running aslant near the root. The stems are three or four in number, and covered with leaves: the flower is like that of the hyacinth, and the roots are red, hairy, matted, and remarkably hard. It grows on stony localities, equally exposed to the sun and to falls of snow, those in the vicinity of Pheneus in Arcadia, for instance. Its properties are highly astringent; the root of it, taken in wine, arrests looseness of the bowels, having the additional effect of throwing downward the aqueous humours, and so acting as a diuretic; a property, in fact, which, belongs to most substances which act astringently upon the bowels.

Bruised in red wine, this plant is curative of dysentery; it is only bruised, however, with the greatest difficulty. It is extremely useful, also, as a fomentation for gum-boils. The end of autumn is the time for gathering it, after the leaves are off; it being then left to dry in the shade.

Diarrhœa may be also arrested by the use of either kind of ladanum. The kind which, is found in corn-fields is pounded for this purpose, and then passed through a sieve, being taken either in hydromel, or in wine of the highest quality. “Ledon” is the name of the plant from which ladanum is obtained in Cyprus, it being found adhering to the beard of the goats there; the most esteemed, however, is that of Arabia. At the present day, it is prepared in Syria and Africa also, being known as “toxicum,” from the circumstance that in gathering it, they pass over the plant a bow, with the string stretched, and covered with wool, to which the dewlike flocks of ladanum adhere. We have described it at further length, when treating of the perfumes.

This substance has a very powerful odour, and is hard in the extreme; for, in fact, there is a considerable quantity of earth adhering to it: it is most esteemed when in a pure state, aromatic, soft, green, and resinous. It is of an emollient, desiccative, and ripening nature, and acts as a narcotic: it prevents the hair from falling off, and preserves its dark colour. In combination with hydromel or oil of roses, it is used as an injection for the ears; with the addition of salt, it is employed for the cure of furfuraceous eruptions of the skin, and for running ulcers. Taken with storax, it is good for chronic cough; it is also extremely efficacious as a carminative.

Chondris, too, or pseudodictamnon, acts astringently on the bowels. Hypocisthis, by some known also as “orobethron,” is similar to an unripe pomegranate in appearance; it grows, as already stated, beneath the cisthus, whence its name. Dried in the shade, and taken in astringent, red wine, these plants arrest diarrhœa—for there are two kinds of hypocisthis, it must be remembered, the white and the red. It is the juice of the plant that is used, being of an astringent, desiccative, nature: that of the red kind, however, is the best for fluxes of the stomach. Taken in drink, in doses of three oboli, with amylum, it arrests spitting of blood; and, employed either as a potion or as an injection, it is useful for dysentery. Vervain, too, is good for similar complaints, either taken in water, or, when there are no symptoms of fever, in Aminean wine, the proportion being five spoonfuls to three cyathi of wine.

Laver, too, a plant which grows in streams, preserved and boiled, is curative of griping pains in the bowels.

Potamogiton, too, taken in wine, is useful for dysentery and cœliac affections: it is a plant similar to beet in the leaves, but smaller and more hairy, and rising but little above the surface of the water. It is the leaves that are used, being of a refreshing, astringent nature, and particularly good for diseases of the legs, and, with honey or vinegar, for corrosive ulcers.

Castor has given a different description of this plant. According to him, it has a smaller leaf, like horse-hair, with a long, smooth, stem, and grows in watery localities. With the root of it he used to treat scrofulous sores and indurations. Potamogiton neutralizes the effects of the bite of the crocodile; hence it is that those who go in pursuit of that animal, are in the habit of carrying it about them.

Achillea also arrests looseness of the bowels; an effect equally produced by the statice, a plant with seven heads, like those of the rose, upon as many stems.

The ceratia is a plant with a single leaf, and a large knotted root: taken with the food, it is curative of coeliac affections and dysentery.

Leontopodion, a plant known also as “leuceoron,” “doripetron,” or “thorybethron,” has a root which acts astringently upon the bowels and carries off bile, being taken in doses of two denarii in hydromel. It grows in champaign localities with a poor soil: the seed, taken in drink, produces night-mare, it is said, in the sleep.

Lagopus arrests diarrhœa, taken in wine, or, if there are symptoms of fever, in water. This plant is attached to the groin, for tumours in that part of the body: it grows in cornfields. Many persons recommend, in preference to anything else, for desperate cases of dysentery, a decoction of roots of cinquefoil in milk, or else aristolochia, in the proportion of one victoriatus to three cyathi of wine. In the case of the preparations above-mentioned, which are recommended to be taken warm, it will be the best plan to heat them with a red-hot iron.

On the other hand, again, the juice of the smaller centaury acts as a purgative upon the bowels, and carries off bile, taken, in doses of one drachma, in one hemina of water with a little salt and vinegar. The greater centaury is curative of griping pains in the bowels. Betony, also, has a laxative effect, taken in the proportion of four drachmæ to nine cyathi of hydromel: the same, too, with euphorbia or agaric, taken, in doses of two drachmæ, with a little salt, in water, or else in three oboli of honied wine. Cyclaminos, also, is a purgative, either taken in water or used as a suppository; the same, too, with chamæcissos, employed as a suppository. A handful of hyssop, boiled down to one third with salt, or beaten up with oxymel and salt, and applied to the abdomen, promotes pituitous evacuations, and expels intestinal worms. Root also of peucedanum carries off pituitous humours and bile.

The two kinds of anagallis, taken in hydromel, are purgative; the same, too, with epithymon, which is the blossom of a sort of thyme similar to savory; the only difference being that the flower of this plant is nearer grass green, while that of the other thyme is white. Some persons call it “hippopheos.” This plant is by no means wholesome to the stomach, as it is apt to cause vomiting, but at the same time it disperses flatulency and gripings of the bowels. It is taken also, in the form of an electuary, for affections of the chest, with honey, or in some cases, with iris. Taken in doses of from four to six drachmæ, with honey and a little salt and vinegar, it relaxes the bowels.

Some persons, again, give a different description of epithymon: according to them, it is a plant without a root, diminutive, and bearing a flower resembling a small hood, and of a red colour. They tell us, too, that it is dried in the shade and taken in water, in doses of half an acetabulum; and that it has a slightly laxative effect upon the bowels, and carries off the pituitous humours and bile. Nymphæa is taken for similar purposes, in astringent wine.

Pycnocomon, too, is a purgative. It is a plant with leaves like those of rocket, only thicker and more acrid; the root is round, of a yellow colour, and with an earthy smell. The stem is quadrangular, of a moderate length, thin, and surmounted with a flower like that of ocimum. It is found growing in rough stony soils. The root, taken in doses of two denarii in hydromel, acts as a purgative upon the bowels, and effectually carries off bile and pituitous humours. The seed, taken in doses of one drachma in wine, is productive of dreams and restlessness. Capnos, too, carries off bile by the urine.

Polypodion, known to us by the name of “filicula,” bears some resemblance to fern. The root of it is used medicinally; being fibrous, and of a grass green colour within, about the thickness of the little finger, and covered with cavernous suckers like those on the arms of the polypus. This plant is of a sweetish taste, and is found growing among rocks and under trees. The root is steeped in water, and the juice extracted; sometimes, too, it is cut in small pieces and sprinkled upon cabbage, beet, mallows, or salt meat; or else it is boiled with pap, as a gentle aperient for the bowels, in cases of fever even. It carries off bile also and the pituitous humours, but acts injuriously upon the stomach. Dried and powdered and applied to the nostrils, it cauterizes polypus of the nose. It has neither seed nor flower.

Scammony, also, is productive of derangement of the stomach. It carries off bile, and acts strongly as a purgative upon the bowels; unless, indeed, aloes are added, in the proportion of two drachmæ of aloes to two oboli of scammony. The drug thus called is the juice of a plant that is branchy from the root, and has unctuous, white, triangular, leaves, with a solid, moist root, of a nauseous flavour: it grows in rich white soils. About the period of the rising of the Dog-star, an excavation is made about the root, to let the juice collect: which done, it is dried in the sun and divided into tablets. The root itself, too, or the outer coat of it, is sometimes dried. The scammony most esteemed is that of Colophon, Mysia, and Priene. In appearance it ought to be smooth and shiny, and as much like bull glue as possible: it should present a fungous surface also, covered with minute holes; should melt with the greatest rapidity, have a powerful smell, and be sticky like gum. When touched with the tongue, it should give out a white milky liquid; it ought also to be extremely light, and to turn white when melted.

This last feature is recognized in the spurious scammony also, a compound of meal of fitches and juice of marine tithymalos, which is mostly imported from Judea, and is very apt to choke those who use it. The difference may be easily detected, however, by the taste, as tithymalos imparts a burning sensation to the tongue. To be fully efficacious, scammony should be two years old; before or after that age it is useless. It has been prescribed to be taken by itself also, in doses of four oboli, with hydromel and salt: but the most advantageous mode of using it is in combination with aloes, care being taken to drink honied wine the moment it begins to operate. The root, too, is boiled down in vinegar to the consistency of honey, and the decoction used as a liniment for leprosy. The head is also rubbed with this decoction, mixed with oil, for head-ache.

The tithymalos is called by our people the “milk plant,” and by some persons the “goat lettuce.” They say, that if characters are traced upon the body with the milky juice of this plant, and powdered with ashes, when dry, the letters will be perfectly visible; an expedient which has been adopted before now by intriguers, for the purpose of communicating with their mistresses, in preference to a correspondence by letter. There are numerous varieties of this plant. The first kind has the additional name of “characias,” and is generally looked upon as the male plant. Its branches are about a finger in thickness, red and full of juice, five or six in number, and a cubit in length. The leaves near the root are almost exactly those of the olive, and the extremity of the stem is surmounted with a tuft like that of the bulrush: it is found growing in rugged localities near the sea-shore. The seed is gathered in autumn, together with the tufts, and after being dried in the sun, is beaten out and put by for keeping. As to the juice, the moment the down begins to appear upon, the fruit, the branches are broken off and the juice of them is received upon either meal of fitches or else figs, and left to dry therewith. Five drops are as much as each fig ought to receive; and the story is, that if a dropsical patient eats one of these figs he will have as many motions as the fig has received drops. While the juice is being collected, due care must be taken not to let it touch the eyes. From the leaves, pounded, a juice is also extracted, but not of so useful a nature as the other kind: a decoction, too, is made from the branches.

The seed also is used, being boiled with honey and made up, into purgative pills. These seeds are sometimes inserted in hollow teeth with wax: the teeth are rinsed too, with a decoction of the root in wine or oil. The juice is used externally for lichens, and is taken internally both as an emetic and to promote alvine evacuation: in other respects, it is prejudicial to the stomach. Taken in drink, with the addition of salt, it carries off pituitous humours; and in combination with saltpetre, removes bile. In cases where it is desirable that it should purge by stool, it is taken with oxycrate, but where it is wanted to act as an emetic, with raisin wine or hydromel; three oboli being a middling dose. The best method, however, of using it, is to eat the prepared figs above-mentioned, just after taking food. In taste, it is slightly burning to the throat; indeed it is of so heating a nature, that, applied externally by itself, it raises blisters on the flesh, like those caused by the action of fire. Hence it is that it is sometimes employed as a cautery.

A second kind of tithymalos is called “myrtites” by some persons, and “caryites” by others. It has leaves like those of myrtle, pointed and prickly, but with a softer surface, and grows, like the one already mentioned, in rugged soils. The tufted heads of it are gathered just, as barley is beginning to swell in the ear, and, after being left for nine days in the shade, are thoroughly dried in the sun. The fruit does not ripen all at once, some, indeed, not till the ensuing year. The name given to this fruit is the “nut,” whence the Greek appellation “caryites.” It is gathered at harvest, and is washed and dried, being given with twice the quantity of black poppy, in doses of one acetabulum in all.

As an emetic, this kind is not so efficacious as the preceding one, and, indeed, the same may be said of all the others. Some physicians recommend the leaf to be taken in the manner already mentioned, but say that the nut should either be taken in honied wine or raisin wine, or else with sesame. It carries off pituitous humours and bile by stool, and is curative of ulcerations of the mouth. For corrosive sores of the mouth, the leaf is eaten with honey.

A third kind of tithymalos is known by the additional name of “paralios,” or else as “tithymalis.” The leaf is round, the stem a palm in height, the branches red, and the seed white. This seed is gathered just as the grape is beginning to form, and is dried and pounded; being taken as a purgative, in doses of one acetabulum.

A fourth kind of tithymalos is known by the additional name of “helioscopios.” It has leaves like those of purslain, and some four or five small branches standing out from the root, of a red colour, half a foot in height, and full of juice. This plant grows in the vicinity of towns: the seed is white, and pigeons are remarkably fond of it. It receives its additional name of “helioscopios” from the fact that the heads of it turn with the sun. Taken in doses of half an acetabulum, in oxymel, it carries off bile by stool: in other respects it has the same properties as the characias, above-mentioned.

In the fifth place we have the tithymalos known as “cyparissias,” from the resemblance of its leaves to those of the cypress. It has a double or triple stem, and grows in champaign localities. Its properties are exactly similar to those of the helioscopios and characias.

The sixth kind is called “platyphyllos” by some, and “corymbites” or “amygdalites” by others, from its resemblance to the almond-tree. The leaves of this kind are the largest of all: it has a fatal effect upon fish. An infusion of the root or leaves, or the juice, taken in doses of four drachmæ, in honied wine, or hydromel, acts as a purgative. It is particularly useful also for carrying off the aqueous humours.

The seventh kind has the additional name of “dendroïdes,” and is known by some persons as “cobios,” and by others as “leptophyllos.” It grows among rocks, and is by far the most shrubby of all the varieties of the tithymalos. The stems of it are small and red, and the seed is remarkably abundant. Its properties are the same as those of the characias.

The apios ischas or raphanos agria, throws out two or three rush-like branches of a red colour, creeping upon the ground, and bearing leaves like those of rue. The root resembles that of an onion, only that it is larger, for which reason some have called it the “wild radish.” The interior of this root is composed of a mammose substance, containing a white juice: the outer coat is black. It grows in rugged, mountainous spots, and sometimes in pasture lands. It is taken up in spring, and pounded and put into an earthen vessel, that portion of it being removed which floats upon the surface. The part which remains acts purgatively, taken in doses of an obolus and a half in hydromel, both as an emetic and by stool. This juice is administered also, in doses of one acetabulum, for dropsy.

The root of this plant is dried and powdered, and taken in drink: the upper part of it, they say, carries off bile by acting as an emetic, the lower part, by promoting alvine evacuation.

Every kind of panaces is curative of gripings in the bowels; as also betony, except in those cases where they arise from indigestion. Juice of peucedanum is good for flatulency, acting powerfully as a carminative: the same is the case, also, with root of acoron and with daucus, eaten like lettuce as a salad. Ladanum of Cyprus, taken in drink, is curative of intestinal affections; and a similar effect is produced by powdered gentian, taken in warm water, in quantities about as large as a bean. For the same purpose, plantago is taken in the morning, in doses of two spoonfuls, with one spoonful of poppy in four cyathi of wine, due care being taken that it is not old wine. It is given, too, at the last moment before going to sleep, and with the addition of nitre or polenta, if a considerable time has elapsed since the last meal. For colic, an injection of the juice is used, one hemina at a time, even in cases where fever has supervened.

Agaric, taken in doses of three oboli in one cyathus of old wine, is curative of diseases of the spleen. The same, too, with the root of every kind of panaces, taken in honied wine: teucria, also, is particularly useful for the same purpose, taken in a dry state, or boiled down in the proportion of one handful to three heminæ of vinegar. Teucria, too, is applied with vinegar to wounds of the spleen, or, if the patient cannot bear the application of vinegar, with figs or water. Polemonia is taken in wine, and betony, in doses of one drachma, in three cyathi of oxymel: aristolochia, too, is used in the same manner as for injuries inflicted by serpents. Argemonia, it is said, taken with the food for seven consecutive days, diminishes the volume of the spleen; and a similar effect is attributed to agaric, taken in doses of two oboli, in oxymel. Root, too, of nymphæa heraclia, taken in wine, or by itself, diminishes the spleen.

Cissanthemos, taken twice a day, in doses of one drachma in two cyathi of white wine, for forty consecutive days, gradually carries off the spleen, it is said, by urine. Hyssop, boiled with figs, is very useful for the same purpose: root of lonchitis, also, boiled before it has shed its seed. A decoction of root of peucedanum is good for the spleen and kidneys. Acoron, taken in drink, diminishes the spleen; and the roots of it are very beneficial for the viscera and iliac regions. For similar purposes, seed of clymenus is taken, for thirty consecutive days, in doses of one denarius, in white wine. Powdered betony is also used, taken in a potion with honey and squill vinegar; root too of lonchitis is taken in water. Teucrium is used externally for diseases of the spleen; scordium, also, in combination with wax; and agaric, mixed with powdered, fenugreek.

For diseases of the bladder and calculi (affections which, as already observed, produce the most excruciating torments), polemonia is highly efficacious, taken in wine; agaric also, and leaves or root of plantago, taken in raisin wine. Betony, too, is very good, as already observed, when speaking of diseases of the liver. This last plant is used also for hernia, applied topically or taken in drink: it is remarkably efficacious too for strangury. For calculi some persons recommend betony, vervain, and milfoil, in equal proportions in water, as a sovereign remedy. It is universally agreed that dittany is curative of strangury, and that the same is the case with cinquefoil, boiled down to one third in wine: this last plant is very useful, too, taken internally and applied topically, for rupture of the groin.

The upper part of the root of xiphion has a diuretic effect upon infants; it is administered also in water for rupture of the groin, and is applied topically for diseases of the bladder. Juice of peucedanum is employed for hernia in infants, and psyllion is used as an application in cases of umbilical hernia. The two kinds of anagallis are diuretic, and a similar effect is produced by a decoction of root of acoron, or the plant itself bruised and taken in drink; this last is good too for all affections of the bladder. Both the stem and root of cotyledon are used for the cure of calculi; and for all inflammations of the genitals, myrrh is mixed in equal proportions with the stem and seed. The more tender leaves of ebulum, beaten up and taken with wine, expel calculi of the bladder, and an application of them is curative of diseases of the testes. Erigeron, with powdered frankincense and sweet wine, is curative of inflammation of the testes; and root of symphytum, applied topically, reduces rupture of the groin. The white hypocisthis is curative of corroding ulcers of the genitals. Artemisia is prescribed also in sweet wine for the cure of calculi and of strangury; and root of nymphæa heraclia, taken in wine, allays pains in the bladder.

A similar property belongs also to crethmos, a plant highly praised by Hippocrates. This is one of the wild plants that are commonly eaten—at all events, we find Callimachus mentioning it as one of the viands set on table by the peasant Hecale. It is a species of garden batis, with a stem a palm in height, and a hot seed, odoriferous like that of libanotis, and round. When dried, the seed bursts asunder, and discloses in the interior a white kernel, known as “cachry” to some. The leaf is unctuous and of a whitish colour, like that of the olive, only thicker and of a saltish taste. The roots are three or four in number, and about a finger in thickness: the plant grows in rocky localities, upon the sea-shore. It is eaten raw or else boiled with cabbage, and has a pleasant, aromatic flavour; it is preserved also in brine.

This plant is particularly useful for strangury, the leaves, stem, or root being taken in wine. It improves the complexion of the skin also, but if taken in excess is very apt to produce flatulency. Used in the form of a decoction it relaxes the bowels, has a diuretic effect, and carries off the humours from the kidneys. The same is the case also with alcea: dried and powdered and taken in wine, it removes strangury, and, with the addition of daucus, is still more efficacious: it is good too for the spleen, and is taken in drink as an antidote to the venom of serpents. Mixed with their barley it is remarkably beneficial for beasts of burden, when suffering from pituitous defluxions or strangury.

The anthyllion is a plant very like the lentil. Taken in wine, it is remedial for diseases of the bladder, and arrests hæmorrhage, Another variety of it is the anthyllis, a plant resembling the chamæpitys, with a purple flower, a powerful smell, and a root like that of endive.

The plant known as “cepæa” is even more efficacious. It resembles purslain in appearance, but has a darker root, that is never used: it grows upon the sands of the sea-shore, and has a bitter taste. Taken in wine with root of asparagus, it is remarkably useful for diseases of the bladder.

Hypericon, otherwise known as the “chamæpitys” or “corison,” is possessed of similar properties. It is a plant with a stem like that of a garden vegetable, thin, red, and a cubit in length. The leaf is similar to that of rue, and has an acrid smell: the seed is enclosed in a swarthy pod, and ripens at the same time as barley. This seed is of an astringent nature, arrests diarrhœa, and acts as a diuretic: it is taken also for diseases of the bladder, in wine.

There is another hypericon also, known as “caros” by some. The leaves of it resemble those of the tamarix, beneath which it grows, but are more unctuous and not so red. It is an odoriferous plant, somewhat more than a palm in height, of a sweet flavour, and slightly pungent. The seed is of a warming nature, and is consequently productive of eructations; it is not, however, injurious to the stomach. This plant is particularly useful for strangury, provided the bladder be not ulcerated; taken in wine, it is curative of pleurisy also.

Callithrix, beaten up with cummin seed, and administered in white wine, is useful also for diseases of the bladder. Leaves of vervain, boiled down to one third, or root of vervain, in warm honied wine, expel calculi of the bladder.

Perpressa, a plant which grows in the vicinity of Arretium and in Illyricum, is boiled down to one third in three heminæ of water, and the decoction taken in drink: the same too with trefoil, which is administered in wine; and the same with the chrysanthemum. The anthemis also is an expellent of calculi. It is a plant with five small leaves running from the root, two long stems, and a flower like a rose. The roots of it are pounded and administered alone, in the same way as raw laver.

Silaus is a plant which grows in running streams with a gravelly bed. It bears some resemblance to parsley, and is a cubit in height. It is cooked in the same manner as the acid vegetables, and is of great utility for affections of the bladder. In cases where that organ is affected with eruptions, it is used in combination with root of panaces, a plant which is otherwise bad for the bladder. The erratic apple, too, is an expellent of calculi. For this purpose, a pound of the root is boiled down to one half in a congius of wine, and one hemina of the decoction is taken for three consecutive days, the remainder being taken in wine with sium. Sea-nettle is employed too for the same purpose, daucus, and seed of plantago in wine.

The plant of Fulvius too—so called from the first discoverer of it, and well known to herbalists—bruised in wine, acts as a diuretic.

Scordion reduces swellings of the testes. Henbane is curative of diseases of the generative organs. Strangury is cured by juice of peucedanum, taken with honey; as also by the seed of that plant. Agaric is also used for the same purpose, taken in doses of three oboli in one cyathus of old wine; root of trefoil, in doses of two drachmæ in wine; and root or seed of daucus, in doses of one drachma. For the cure of sciatica, the seed and leaves of erythrodanum are used, pounded; panaces, taken in drink; polemonia, employed as a friction; and leaves of aristolochia, in the form of a decoction. Agaric, taken in doses of three oboli in one cyathus of old wine, is curative of affections of the tendon known as “platys” and of pains in the shoulders. Cinquefoil is either taken in drink or applied topically for the cure of sciatica; a decoction of scammony is used also, with barley meal; and the seed of either kind of hypericon is taken in wine.

For diseases of the fundament and for excoriations plantago is remarkably efficacious; for condylomata, cinquefoil; and for procidence of the rectum, root of cyclaminos, applied in vinegar. The blue anagallis reduces procidence of the rectum, while, on the contrary, that with a red flower has a tendency to bear it down. Cotyledon is a marvellous cure for condylomatous affections and piles; and root of acoron, boiled in wine and beaten up, is a good application for swelling of the testes. According to what Cato says, those who carry about them Pontic wormwood, will never experience chafing between the thighs.