Chap. 45.] OIL OP CHAM^MTESINE. 491 



wax, it cures diseases of the gums, tooth- ache, dysentery, 

 ulcerations of the uterus, affections of the bladder, inveterate 

 or running ulcers, eruptions, and burns. It exercises a heal- 

 ing effect also, upon excoriations, scaly eruptions, chaps, con- 

 dylomata, and sprains, and it neutralizes offensive odours of the 

 body. This oil is an antidote^' to cantharides, the buprestis, 

 and other dangerous poisons of a corrosive nature. 



^CHAP. 45. OIL OF CHAM^MYESINE OR OXYMYESINE ; OIL OF 



CYPEESS ; OIL OF CITRUS J OIL OF WALNUTS ; OIL OF CNIDIUM ; 

 OIL OF MASTICH ; OIL OF BALANUS ; VARIOUS REMEDIES. 



Oil of chamaemjTsine, or oxymyrsine,®^ possesses similar pro- 

 perties. Oil of cypress^^ also, produces the same effects as oil 

 of myrtle, and the same as to oil of citrus.^^ Oil of walnuts, 

 which we have previously mentioned^^ as being called *'caryi- 

 non," is good for alopecy, and is injected into the ears for the 

 cure of hardness of hearing. Used as a liniment, it relieves 

 head-ache ; but in other respects it is of an inert nature and 

 disagreeable taste ; indeed, if part only of one of the kernels 

 should happen to be decayed, the whole making is spoilt. 

 The oil extracted from the grain of Cnidos^- has similar pro- 

 perties to castor^^ oil. Oil of mastich^* is very useful as an 

 ingredient in the medicinal preparation known as " acopum;''®^ 

 indeed it would be fully as efficacious as oil of roses, were it 

 not found to be somewhat too styptic in its effects. It is em- 

 ployed in cases of too profuse perspiration, and for the cure 

 of pimples produced thereby. It is extremely efficacious also 



87 Such is not the case. 



88 The wild myrtle, or little holly. See B. xv. c. 7. The oil would be 

 inodorous, and not possessed, as Pliny says, of properties similar to those 

 of oil of myrtle. 



89 See B. xv. c. 7. Fee thinks that it may have possibly been prepared 

 from a decoction of leaves of cypress. 



90 See B. xiii. cc. 1. 29, and B. xv. c. 7. 



91 See B. xv. c. 7. Oil of walnuts is used but little in medicine at the 

 present day, but it is employed for numerous other purposes. 



92 " Granum Cnidium.*' See B. xv. c. 7. 



93 It would only resemble castor oU in its drastic properties ; the latter 

 is a fixed natural oil, the former an artificial one. 



91 See B. XV. c. 7. An oil is still extracted in Italy from the faiit of 

 the Pistacia lentiscus ; but it is no longer used in medicine. 

 95 From the Greek dicoTrog, " relieving weariness." 



