Chap. 97.] MOLTBD^;jfA. 141 



preparation proves fatal by coagulating the blood — another 

 deadly property which belongs to it ; and hence it is that tlie 

 bodies of those who have been poisoned by it are covered with 

 spots. It is sometimes used in combination with water as a me- 

 dium for diluting certain medicaments. An emollient poultice 

 is also prepared from this juice, for the purpose of cooling the 

 stomach ; but the principal use made of it is as a topical ap- 

 plication, to check defluxions of the eyes in summer, and to 

 allay pains in those organs. It is employed also as an ingre- 

 dient in eyesalves, and is used for arresting fluxes in other parts 

 of the body ; the leaves, too, have a soothing effect upon all 

 kinds of pains and tumours, and upon defluxions of the eyes. 



Anaxilaiis makes a statement to the effect, that if the 

 mamillse" are rubbed with hemlock during virginity, they will 

 always be hard and firm : but a better-ascertained fact is, that 

 applied'^^ to the mamillae, it dries up the milk in women re- 

 cently delivered ; as also that, applied to the testes at the age 

 of puberty, it acts most effectually as an antaphrodisiac.''^ As 

 to those cases in which it is recommended to take it internally 

 as a remedy, I shall, for my own part, decline to mention them. 

 The most powerful hemlock is that grown at Susa, in Parthia, 

 the next best being the produce of Laconia, Crete, and Asia.*" 

 In Greece, the hemlock of the finest quality is that of Megara, 

 and next to it, that of Attica. 



CHAP. 96. CBETHMOS AGKIOS : ONE REMEDY. 



Crethmos agrios,^^ applied to the eyes, removes rheum ; and, 

 with the addition of polenta, it causes tumours to disappear. 



CHAP, 97. — moltbi).«na: one remedy. 



Molybdcena^^ also grows everywhere in the fields, a plant 

 commonly known as " plumbago."^' It has leaves like those of 

 lapathum,^^ and a thick, hairy root. Chewed and applied to the 



''"^ A very dangerous use of it, Desfontaines thinks. 



"^ Desfontaines says that it is still employed in various ways when the 

 milk is in excess. 



'9 By causing those organs to waste away. 



^° The province of Asia Minor. 



81 " "Wild crethmos." Generally identified with the Crithmum mariti- 

 vnnm of Linnaeus, Small samphire, or sea fennel. 



*»2 Or " lead plant." Identified with the Plumhago Europaea of Lin- 

 naeus, Leadwort, or French dittander. ss ggg g ^x. c. 85. 



