Chap. 94.] meum:. 29. > 



an injection, with oil or honey, it is beneficial for dangerous 

 affections of the chest and intestines. 



CHAP. 93. ELITE : SIX EEMEDIES. 



Blite^ seems to be a plant of an inert nature, without 

 flavour or an)' pungency whatever ; hence it is that, in 

 Meuander, we find husbands giving this name to their wives, 

 by way of^* reproach. It is*^ prejudicial to the stomach, and 

 disturbs the bowels to sucli a degree, as to cause cholera in 

 some. It is stated, however, that, taken in wine, it is good 

 for the stings of scorpions; and that it is sometimes used as a 

 liniment for corns on the feet, and, with oil, for affections of 

 the spleen and pains in the temples. Hippocrates is of opi- 

 nion, that if taken with the food,^' it will arrest the menstrual 

 discharge. 



CHAP. 94. (23.) MEUM, AND MEUM ATHAMANTICTJM : SEVEN 



REMEDIES. 



Meum^® is never cultivated in Italy except by medical men, 

 and by veiy few of those. There are two varieties of it, the 

 finer kind being known as '' athamanticum," because, accord- 

 ing to some, it was first discovered by Athamas ; or else be- 

 cause, as others think, that of the best quality is found upon 

 Mount Athamas. ^^ The leaf of it is similar to that of dill, and 

 the stem is sometimes as much as two cubits in length : the 

 roots, which run obliquely, are numerous and mostly black, 

 though sometimes white : it is not of so red a hue as the other 

 kind. 



The root of this plant, pounded or boiled, and taken in water, 

 is diuretic, and is marvellously efficacious for dispelling flatu- 

 lency of the stomach. It is good, too, for gripings of the bowels 

 and affections of the bladder : applied with honey to the 



^' The Blitum capitatum of Linnaeus. 



^ Hence, too, the Latin -word *' bliteus," meaning "insipid," "sense- 

 less," or ' worthless." 



*^ This is not the case, it being as innocuous as it is insipid. Applied 

 t(^)ically, the leaves are emollient. 



*>" There is no foundation, Fee says, for this opinion. 



^^ The iEthusa meum of Linnteus ; our Spignel, or Baldmoney, the 

 Athamanta Matthioli of "Wulf. By some authorities it is called Fcni- 

 culum Alpinum perenne. It is possessed of exciting properties, and is uo 

 longer used in medicine. ^s g^.^ jj. [y. c. 5. 



