Chap. 40.] BULBS. 243 



with oil, and then mixed with resin, they are a cure for chaps 

 on the feet ; and the seed, mixed with honey, is applied to- 

 pically, for the cure of lumbago. Pythagoras says that a 

 squill, suspended at the threshold of tbe door, effectually shuts 

 all access to evil spells and incantations.^ 



CHAP 40. BULBS : THIRTY REMEDIES. 



Bulbs, ^ steeped in vinegar and sulphur, are good for the cure 

 of wounds in the face ;" beaten up and used alone, they are 

 beneficial for contractions of the sinews, mixed with wine, 

 for porrigo, and used with honey, for the bites of dogs ; in this 

 last case, however, Erasistratus says that they ought to be 

 mixed with pitch. The same author states that, applied to- 

 pically with honey, they stanch the flowing of blood ; other 

 writers say, however, that in cases of bleeding at the nose, 

 coriander and meal should be employed in combination with 

 them. Theodorus prescribes bulbs in vinegar for the cure of 

 lichens, and for eruptions in the head he recommends bulbs 

 mixed with astringent wine, or an egg beaten up ; he treats 

 defluxions of the eyes also with bulbs, applied topically, and 

 uses a similar method for the cure of ophthalmia. The red 

 bulbs more particularly, will cause spots in the face to dis- 

 appear, if rubbed upon them with honey and nitre in the sun ; 

 and applied with wine or boiled cucumber they will remove 

 freckles. Used either by themselves, or as Damion recom- 

 mends, in combination with honied wine, they are remarkably 

 efficacious for the cure of wounds, care being taken, however, 

 not to remove the application till the end of four days. The 



* Theocritus says that the squill effectually protects statues aud tombs 

 from outrages being committed upon tliera ; and it was so customary to 

 plant them about tlie graves, that it became a proverbial saying, '* He is 

 frantic enough to pluck squills from a grave." Theophrastus states that 

 squills were employed in certain expiatory ceremonials. 



^ As to the identification of the " bulbs," see B. xix. c. 30. The wild 

 bulbs, Fee is of opinion, are probably the Nigrum allium or Moly of 

 modern Botany ; and the Allium schcenoprasum belongs, in his opinion, to 

 the cultivated bulbs. 



■' Supposing, Fee says, that the Bulbi of the ancients belonged to the 

 genus Allium or garlic of modern Botany, we may conclude that in a me- 

 dicinal point of view, they were of an exciting nature, powerful vermifuges, 

 and slightly blistering when applied topically. The other statements here 

 made, as to their medicinal qualities, are not consistent with modem ex- 

 perience. 



B 2 



