Chap. 51.] INFLUENCES OF DIFFEEENT ALIMENTS. 435 



ness solely, and not any inherent acridity, its natural proper- 

 ties being altogether different from those of salt. It is 

 employed with the greatest success for affections®^ of the throat 

 and tonsils, for quinsy and all ailments of the mouth, as also 

 in fever, when the tongue is parched. Decoctions of it are 

 used also for peripneumony and pleurisy, for wounds inflicted 

 by serpents, and for the poison of fungi. For paralysis, it is 

 prescribed in honied wine, though that liquor also has its own 

 peculiar virtues. Honey is used with rose-oil, as an injection 

 for the ears ; it has the effect also of exterminating nits and 

 foul vermin of the head. It is the best plan always to skim 

 it before using it. 



Still, however, honey has a tendency to inflate^ the stomach ; 

 it increases the bilious secretions also, produces qualmishness, 

 and, according to some, if employed by itself, is injurious^® to 

 the sight : though, on the other hand, there are persons who 

 recommend ulcerations at the corners of the eyes to be touched 

 with honey. 



As to the elementary principles of honey, the different 

 varieties of it, the countries where it is found, and its charac- 

 teristic features, we have enlarged upon them on previous 

 occasions : first, ®^ when treating of the nature of bees, and 

 secondly, when speaking®^ of that of flowers; the plan of this 

 work compelling us to separate subjects which ought properly 

 to be united, if we would arrive at a thorough knowledge of 

 the operations of Nature. 



CHAP. 51. THE VAEIOUS INFLUENCES OF DIFFEEENT ALIMENTS 



UPON THE DISPOSITION. 



While speaking of the uses of honey, we ought also to treat 

 of the properties of hydromel.®^ There are two kinds of hy- 

 dromel, one of which is prepared at the moment, and taken 

 while fresh, ^° the other being kept to ripen. The first, 



^* It is of an emollient nature, and is preferred to sugar for sweetening 

 liquids, in a multitude of instances, 



^^ Fee denies this ;_but there is no doubt that honey has this tendency 

 with some persons. 



66 Fee says that this is not the case. 



6' In B. xi. c. 13. 6s In B. xxi. c. 44. 



69 " Aqua mulsa." See B. xiv. c. 20, where it is described as Hydro- 

 meli, or Melicraton. 



"° Fee says that this must have been a wholesome beverage, but that it 



F F 2 



