Chap. 75.] THE IRIO. 453 



hips and loins. A dfcoction of tliem, used as a fomenta- 

 tion, removes freckles and improves the skin ; and lupines, 

 either wild or cultivated, boiled down to the consistency of 

 honey, are a cure for black eruptions and leprosy. An appli- 

 cation of cultivated lupines causes carbuncles to break, and re- 

 duces inflamed tumours and scrofulous sores, or else brings ihem 

 to a head : boiled in vinegar, they restore the flesh when cica- 

 trized to its proper colour. Thoroughly boiled in rain-M'ater, 

 the decoction of them furnishes a detersive medicine, of which 

 fomentations are made for gangrenes, purulent eruptions, and 

 running ulcers. This decoction is very good, taken in drink, 

 for affections of the spleen, and with honey, for retardations of 

 the catamenia. Beaten up raw, with dried figs, lupines are 

 applied externally to the spleen. A decoction of the root acts 

 as a diuretic. 



The herb chamaeleon,^^ also, is boiled with lupines, and the 

 water of it strained oft', to be used as a potion for cattle. 

 Lupines boiled in amurca,^'* or a decoction of them mixed with 

 amurca, heals the itch in beasts. The smoke of lupines kills " 

 gnats. 



CHAP. T5. IRIO, OE ERTSlirril. BY THE GAULS CALLED TELA: 



FIFTEEN REMEDIES. 



'When treating of the cereals, we have already stated " that 

 the irio, which strongly resembles sesame, is also called " ery- 

 simon " by the Greeks : the Gauls give it the name of " vela." 

 It is a branchy plant, with leaves like those of rocket, but a 

 little narrower, and a seed similar to that of nasturtium. "With 

 honey, it is extremely good for cough and purulent expectora- 

 tions : it is given, also, for jaundice and affections of the loins, 

 pleurisy, gripings of the bowels, and coeliac affections, and is 

 used in liniments for imposthuiues of the parotid glands and car- 

 cinomatous affections. Employed with water, or with honey, 

 it is useful for inflammations of the testes, and is extremely 

 beneflcial for the diseases of infants. Mixed with honey and 

 figs, it is good for affections of the fundament and diseases of 



«i See c. 24 of this Book. «' Lees of olive oil. 



6s This is not the fact. 



" In B, xviii. c. 22. Racine, in his letters to Boileau, speaks of a 

 chorister of Notre Dame, who recovered his voice by the aid of this plant. 



