Chap. 58.] THE COMPOSITION CALLED STOilATICE. 4 1^9 



common use with curriers for tanning^^ leather, from which cir- 

 cumstance it has received the name of *' malicorium."^^ Me- 

 dical men assure us that the rind is diuretic, and tliat, boiled 

 wdth nut-galls in vinegar, it strengthens loose teeth in the 

 sockets. It is prescribed also for pregnant women when suf- 

 fering from qualmishness, the flavour of it quickening the 

 fcBtus. A pomegranate is cut, and left to soak in rain-water 

 for some three days ; after which the infusion is given cold to 

 persons suffering from coBliac affections and spitting of blood. 



CHAP. 5 8. THE COMPOSITION CALLED STOJ^ATICE : FOUETEEN 



KEMEDIES. 



"With the sour pomegranate a medicament is made, which is 

 known as '* stomatice," and is extremely good for affections of 

 the mouth, nostrils, and ears, dimness of siglit, films upon the 

 eyes,^ diseases of the generative organs, corrosive sores called 

 **nomge," and fleshy excrescences in ulcers ; it is useful, also, 

 as an antidote to the venom of the sea-hare.*^^ The following 

 is the method of making it : the rind is taken off the fruit, 

 and the pips are pounded, after which the juice is boiled 

 down to one-third, and then mixed with saffron, split alum," 

 myrrh, and Attic honey, the proportions being half a pound 

 of each. 



Some persons have another way of making it : a number 

 of sour pomegranates are pounded, after which the juice is 

 boiled down in a new cauldron to the consistency of honey. 

 This composition is used for various affections of the genera- 

 tive organs and fundament, and, indeed, all those diseases 

 which are treated with lycium." It is employed, also, for 

 the cure of purulent discharges from the ears, incipient de- 

 fluxions of the eyes, and red spots upon the hands. Branches 

 of the pomegranate have the effect of repelling the attacks of 

 serpents." Pomegranate rind, boiled in wine and applied, is 

 a cure for chilblains. A pomegranate, boihid down to one- 

 third in three hemina) of wine, is a cure for griping pains in 



48 See B. xiii. c. 34. 



<8 The '* leather apple." apparently. It is more probable, as Ilardouin 

 says, that it was so called from the toughness of the rind. 



^> " Pterygiis." ^^ See B. ix. c. 72, and B. xxxii. c. 3. 



52 '« Aluraen scissum." See B. xxxi. c. 39, and B. xxxv. c. 52. 



" See B. xii. c. 15, and B. xxiv. c. 77. 



5i An absurd notion, without any apparent foundation. 



K K 2 



