Chap. 53.] EC^iTIED WI>^£. 437 



taken warm, it promotes vomiting. AVitli the addition of oil 

 it counteracts the poison of white lead ; "^ of henbane, also, 

 and of the halicaeabum, as already stated,'^ if taken in milk, 

 asses' milk in particular. It is used as an injection for dis- 

 eases of the ears, and in cases of fistula of the generative 

 organs. AVith crumb of bread it is applied as a poultice to 

 the uterus, as also to tumours suddenly formed, sprains, and 

 all affections which require soothing aj)plications. The more 

 recent writers have condemned the use of fermented hydro- 

 mel, as being not so harmless as water, and less strengthening 

 than wine. After it has been kept a considerable time, it 

 becomes transformed into a wine,'® which, it is universally 

 agreed, is extremely prejudicial to the stomach, and injurious 

 to the nerves."^^ 



CHAP. 53. HONIED WINE*. SIX REMEDIES. 



As to honied ^° wine, that is always the best which has been 

 made with old wine : honey, too, incorporates with it very 

 readily, which is never the case with sweet^^ wine. When 

 made with astringent wine, it does not clog the stomach, nor 

 has it that effect when the honey has been boiled : in this last 

 case, too, it causes less flatulency, an inconvenience generally 

 incidental to this beverage. It acts as a stimulant alsj upon 

 a failing appetite ; taken cold it relaxes the bowels, but used 

 warm it acts astringently, in most cases, at least. It has a 

 tendency also to make flesh. Many persons have attained an 

 extreme old age, by taking bread soaked in honied wine, and 

 no other diet — the famous instance of PoUio Romilius, for ex- 

 ample. This man was more than one hundred years old when 

 the late Emperor Augustus, who was then his host,^- asked 



"8 It is the oil, Fee says, and not the hydromel, that combats the effects 

 of the white lead, a subcarbonate of lead. 



'" In B. xxi. c. 105. "^^ Mead, or raetheglin. 



'9 This is, perhaps, the meaning of " nervis" here, but it is very doubt- 

 ful. See Kote S in p. 77 of Vol. III. 



«o "Mulsum." 



SI *' Dulci." Fee thinks, but erroneously, that by this word he means 

 "must," er grape-juico, and ccmbats the assertion. Honied wine, he 

 says, is used at the present day (in France, of course,) as a popular cure 

 for recent wounds and inveterate ulcers. As a beverage, it was very highly 

 esteemed by the ancients. See B. vii. c. 54. 



«- "Hospos." It may possibly mean his "guest," but the other is 

 more probable. 



