Chap. 10.] THE CYPRESS. / 



to employ it as a sitting-bath, for its desiccative or astringent 

 effects upon the lower extremities. The root of this tree 

 neutralizes the venom of the scorpion. 



CHAP. 8. THE-COEZ TREE : TWO REMEDIES. 



The bark of the cork- tree, *° pulverized and taken in warm 

 water, arrests haemorrhage at the mouth and nostrils ;" and 

 the ashes of it, taken in warm wine, are highly extolled as a 

 cure for spitting of blood. 



CHAP. 9. (5.) — THE beech: four remedies. 



The leaves*^ of the beech are chewed for affections of the 

 lips and gums. A liniment is made of the ashes of beech- 

 mast for urinary calculus, and, in combination with honey, for 

 alopecy. 



CHAP. 10. THE cypress: TWENTY- THREE REMEDIES. 



The leaves of the cypress^^ are pounded and applied to 

 wounds inflicted by serpents, and with polenta, to the head, in 

 cases of sunstroke. They are used also for hernia, and an infu- 

 sion of them is taken in drink.** They are applied with wax to 

 swellings of the testes, and mixed with vinegar they stain the 

 hair black. *^ Beaten up with twice the quantity of light 

 bread, and then kneaded with Aminean*^ wine, they are found 

 very soothing for pains in the feet and sinews. 



The excrescences of this tree are taken in drink for the 

 stings of serpents and for discharges of blood from the mouth ; 

 they are used also as a topical application for gatherings. 

 Fresh- gathered and beaten up with axle-grease and bean- 

 meal, they are good for hernia ; and an infusion of them is 



40 See B. xvi= c. 13. *i "Ex utralibet parte." 



*2 There is no foundation, Fee says, for any of these statements. 



*3 See B. xvi. c. 60. The leaves of the cypress, Fee says, contain tan- 

 nin and an essential oil ; all the medicinal properties therefore, here attri- 

 buted to them, which are not based upon these principles, must be looked 

 upon as hypothetical. 



■** Down to the present century the leaves and fruit of the cypress were 

 recommended in some medical works for the cure of hernia. The juice, 

 however, of the leaves, taken internally, would be, as Fee says, highly 

 dangerous. 



''^ Owing probably to the gallic acid they contain. 



*<= See U. xiv. c. 4. 



