226 Pliny's jtatuijal history. [Book XX. 



eyery kind of wild beast, whether taken with tlie drink or food, 

 or upplied topically. Taken in wine, it is a remedy for the 

 sting of the htemorrhois^ more particularly, acting as an 

 emetic. "We shall not be surprised too, that it acts as a pow- 

 erful remedy for the bite of the shrew-mouse, when ^ye find 

 that it has the property of neutralizing aconite, otherwise 

 known as " pardalianches."^^ It neutralizes henbane, also, 

 and cures the bites of dogs, when applied with honey to the 

 wound. It is taken in drink also for the stings of serpents ; 

 and of its leaves, mixed with oil, a most valuable liniment is 

 made for bruises on the body, even when they have swelled 

 and formed blisters. 



Hippocrates^- is of opinion also, that fumigations made with 

 garlic have the effect of bringing away the after-birth; and 

 he used to employ the ashes of garlic, mixed with oil, for the 

 cure of running ulcers of the head. Some persons have pre- 

 scribed boiled garlic for asthmatic patients ; while others, 

 again, have given it raw. Diodes prescribes it, in combina- 

 tion with centaury, for dropsj^, and to be taken in a split fig, 

 to promote the alvine evacuations : taken fresh, however, in 

 unmixed wine, with coriander, it is still more efiicacious for 

 that purpose. Some persons have given it, beaten up in 

 milk, for asthma. Praxagoras used to prescribe garlic, mixed 

 with wine, for jaundice, and with oil and pottage for the iliac 

 passion : he employed it also in a similar form, as a liniment 

 for scrofulous swellings of the neck. 



The ancients used to give raw garlic in crises of madness, 

 and Diodes administered it boiled for phrenitis. Beaten up, 

 and taken in vinegar and water, it is very useful as a gargle 

 for quinsy. Three heads of garlic, beaten up in vinegar, give 

 relief in toothache : and a similar result is obtained by rinsing 

 the mouth wnth a decoction of garlic, and inserting pieces of 

 it in the hollow teeth. Juice of garlic is sometimes injected 

 into the ears with goose-grease,^-* and, taken in drink, or simi- 



^^ This serpent is described by Lucan, in the "Pharsalia," B. ix. 1. 708, 

 ef seq., wliere a fearful account is given of the effects of its sting. Nicander, 

 in liis " Theriaca,'' informs us that those bitten by the hsemorrhois tlie 

 with the blood flowing from the nose and ears, whence its name. 



3' Pard or pantlier-strangle. See B. xxvii. c. 2. The juice of garlic 

 has no such effect as here stated. 



a2 De Morb. Mul. B. i. c. 74. S2» gee C. Nxix c. 39. 



