188 pliny's natural history. [Book XXVI. 



For diseases of the fundament and for excoriations plantago 

 is remarkably efficacious ; for condylomata, cinquefoil ; and for 

 procidence of the rectum, root of cyclaminos,^^ applied in 

 vinegar. The blue anagallis^* reducers procidence of the 

 rectum, while, on the contrary, that with a red flower has a 

 tendency to bear it down. Cotyledon^^ is a marvellous cure 

 for condylomatous aflPections and piles ; and root of acoron,^^ 

 boiled in wine and beaten up, is a good application for swel- 

 ling of the testes. According to what Cato^'' says, those who 

 carry about them Pontic®^ wormwood, will neyer experience 

 chafing between the thighs. 



(9.) Some persons add pennyroyal to the number of these 

 plants : gathered fasting, they say, and attached to the hinder 

 part of the body, it will be an effectual preservative against 

 all pains in the groin, and will allay them in cases where they 

 already exist. 



CHAP. 59. INGIJINALIS OR ARGEMU. 



Inguinalis^" again, or, as some persons call it, ''argemo," a 

 plant commonlj^ found growing in bushes and thickets, needs 

 only to be held in the hand to be productive of beneficial efiects 

 upon the groin. 



CHAP. 60. REMEDIES FOR INFLAMED TUMOURS. CHRYSIPPIOS *. 



ONE REMEDY. 



Panaces,^° applied with honey, heals inflammatory tumours; 

 an effect which is equally produced by plantago applied with 

 salt, cinquefoil, root of persolata^^ used in the same way as 

 for scrofula ; damasonium^'-^ also, and verbascum^^ pounded with 

 the root, and then sprinkled with wine, and wrapped in a leaf 

 warmed upon ashes, and applied hot. Persons of experience 

 in these matters have asserted that it is of primary importance 

 that the application should be made by a maiden, as also that 

 she must be naked at the time, and fasting. The patient must 



83 See B. XXV. c. 67. ^* See B. xxv. c. 92. 



85 See B. XXV. c. 101. '^ See B. xxv. c. 100. 



s'' De Re Rust. c. 159. He says that it must be carried under the ring. 

 88 See B. xxvii. c. 28. 



69 The *' Groin plant." Probably the same as the Bubonion of B. xxvii. 

 c. 19. 



^ See B. xxv. c. 11, et seq. '^ See c. 12 of this Book. 



0'- See B. xxv. c. 77. ^^ Sec B. xxv. c. 73. 



