488 Flint's natueal histoet. [Book XXIII. 



boiled and applied with honey, have a healing effect. These 

 branches, too, when arrived at maturity, taken with the food, 

 arrest diarrhoea : parched and beaten up with honey, they 

 act as a detergent upon corroding sores, and bring carbuncles 

 to a head and dispers them. 



CHAP. 39. OMPHACIUM : THREE EEMEDIES. 



As to olive oil, we have abundantly treated of its nature 

 and elements already.^ It now remains to speak of the medi- 

 cinal properties of the various kinds of oil. The most useful 

 of all is omphacium,^^ and next to that, green oil ;'° in addi- 

 tion to which, we may remark that oil ought to be as fresh as 

 possible, except in cases where old oil is absolutely required. 

 For medicinal purposes, too, oil should be extremely fluid, 

 have an agreeable smell, and be free from'''^ all taste, just the 

 converse, in fact, of the property which we look for in food. 

 Omphacium is good for the gums, and if kept from time to 

 time in the mouth, there is nothing better as a preservative of 

 the whiteness of the teeth. It checks profuse perspirations. 



CBAP. 40. OIL OF (ENANTHE I TWENTY-EIGHT REMEDIES. 



Oil of oenanthe'^''' has just the same properties as oil of roses. 

 Like oil in general, it makes the body supple, and imparts to 

 it strength and vigour ; it is injurious to the stomach, pro- 

 motes the increase of ulcers, irritates the fauces, and deadens 

 the effect of all poisons, white-lead and gypsum in particular, 

 if taken in hydromel or a decoction of dried figs. Taken with 

 water, it is good as an antidote to the effects of opium, and to 

 injuries inflicted by cantharides, the buprestis, the salamandra, 

 and the pine caterpillar.'^ Taken pure as an emetic, it is 

 highly esteemed as an antidote in all the before-mentioned 

 cases. It is also a refreshing remedy for extreme lassitude, 

 and for fits of shivering from cold. Taken warm, in doses of 

 six cyathi, and more particularly when boiled with rue,''^* it 



68 In B. XV. c. 2. 69 See B. xii. c. 60. 



'0 See B. xii. c. 60. An inferior kind of omphacium. 



'1 " Nonmordeat." Probably in the sense of " have no pungency." 



'2 Or " (Enanthinum." See B. xii. c. 61, and B. xv. c. 7. 



" See c. 30 of this Book. 



73* Fee remarks, that a modern physician would dread to administer sucli 

 a dose, rue being a very dangerous plant in its effects. He-also remarks 

 that it is doubtful whether Pliny is speaking throughout this Chapter of 

 olive oil or of oil of cenanthe ; and such is the fact, though most probably 

 the latter is intended to be spoken of. 



