498 pltnt's natural histort. [Book XXIII. 



CHAP. 56. CITRO^'S : five OBSEEVAXIOIfS UPON THEM. 



Citrons," either the pulp of them or the pips, are taken in 

 wine as an antidote to poisons. A decoction of citrons, or the 

 juice extracted from them, is used as a gargle to impart sweet- 

 ness to the breath.*- The pips of this fruit are recommended 

 for pregnant women to chew when affected with qualmish- 

 ness. Citrons are good, also, for a weak stomach, but it is not 

 easy to eat them except with vinegar.*^ 



CHAP. 57. — PUMC APPLES 0"R POMEGKAKATES : TWEKTT-SIX 

 REMEDIES. 



It would be a mere loss of time to recapitulate the nine*^ 

 different varieties of the pomegranate. The sweet pome- 

 granates, or, in other words, tliose known by the name of 

 " apyrena,"'*^ are generally considered to be injurious to the 

 stomach ; they are productive, also, of flatulency, and are bad 

 for the teeth and gums. The kind which closely resembles the 

 last in flavour, and which we have spoken of as the " vinous" 

 pomegranate, has very diminutive pips, and is thought to be 

 somewhat more wholesome than the others. They have an 

 astringent effect upou the stomach and bowels, provided they 

 are taken in moderation, and not to satiety ; but even these, 

 or, indeed, any other kind, should never be given in fevers, as 

 neither the substance nor the juice of the fruit acts otherwise 

 than injuriously under those circumstances. They sliould, 

 also, be equally^^ abstained from in cases of vomiting and 

 bilious evacuations. 



In this fruit Xature has revealed to us a grape, and, so to 

 say, not must, but a wine ready made, both grape and wine 

 being enclosed in a tougher skin.*' The rind of the sour 

 2)omegranate is employed for many purposes. It is in very 



•*• See B. xii. c. 7. *- See B. xi. c. 15, and B, xii. c. 7. 



^3 As Fee says, tliis observation is quite unaccountable. lie queries 

 whether a sweet fruit may not possibly ho meant, the sweet lime, for in- 

 stance, the flavour of wliich is very sickly, and would require to be 

 l)(;io;]itene(l by tlie assistance of an acid. 



** See B. xiii. c. 34 ; where, liowever, he has only distinguished them 

 accordinc: to their flavour, sweet, vinous, &c. 



^5 " Without pi2)s." See B, xiii. c. bi. 



^'^ This and the previous precaution given, Fee considers to be mere 

 puerilities. 



*7 Than tliat of the ordinary grape, probably. 



