Chap, 32.] THE POPLAR. 21 



leaves^^ is injurious to both the ears and eyes. The ashes of 

 the excrescences of this tree heal such parts of the body as 

 have been burnt or frost-bitten. The bark, taken in w'ine, 

 reduces the inflammation caused by the stings of scorpions. 



CHAP. 30. THE ASH : FIVE EEMEDIES. 



"We have already^^ made some mention of the virtues pos- 

 sessed by the ash as an "antidote to the venom of serpents. 

 The seed of it is enclosed in foUicules, which are good for 

 diseases of -the liver, and, in combination with wine, for pains 

 in the sides : they are employed also for drawing off the 

 water in dropsy. They have the property, too, of diminish- 

 ing obesfty, and of gradually reducing the body to a state of 

 comparative emaciation, ^^ the follicules being pounded in 

 wine and administered in proportion to the bodily strength ; 

 thus, for instance, to a child, live of them are given in three 

 cyatlii of wine, but for persons in more robust health, seven 

 are prescribed, in five cyathi of wine. 



We must not omit to state that the shavings and saw-dust 

 of this wood are of a highly dangerous -nature, according to 

 some. 



CHAP. 31. — THE MAPLE : ONE llEMEDY. 



The root of the maple, ^^ beaten up in wine, is extremely 

 efficacious as a topical application for pains in the liver. 



CHAP. 32. THE POPLAR : EIGHT EEMEDIES. 



We have already^^ mentioned, when speaking of the un- 

 guents, the use that is made of the berries^'' of the white 

 poplar. A potion prepared from the bark is good for sciatica 



'2 The young leaves probably, or else the fruit. 



^■'' In B. xvi. c. 24. There are still some traces of this notion existing:, 

 Fee says, among the French peasantry. All the statements here made re- 

 lative to its medicinal proptrties, are utterly unfounded. 



2* In reality they have no such effect. 



35 See B. xvi. c. 26. The root of the maple, Fee says, has no marked 

 qualities whatever. 



3^ In B. xii. c. 61. The buds of the poplar, Fee says, are still used in 

 medicine in the composition of an unguent known as " populeum." The 

 hark is astringent, and the wood destitute of taste. 



2' " Uvarum." Fee thinks that by tliese berries, or grapes, the blossoms 

 or buds are meant. See Note 91 to B. xii. c. 61 



