Chap. 62.] THE OKCniS. 189 



be fasting too, and tlie damsel must say, touching him with 

 the back of her hand,^^ " Apollo forbids that a disease shall 

 increase which a naked virgin restrains." So saying, she 

 must withdraw her hand, and repeat to the above effect three 

 times, both of them spitting upon the ground each time. 



Root, too, of mandragora^^ is used for this purpose, with 

 water ; a decoction of root of scammony with honey ; sideritis^^ 

 beaten up with stale grease ; horehound with stale axle- 

 grease ; or chrysippios,^'' a plant which owes its name to its 

 discoverer — with pulpy figs. 



CHAP. 61. (10.) APHKODISIACS AND ANTAPHRODISIACS. 



Nymphsea heraclia, used as already stated,^^ acts most 

 powerfully as an antaphrodisiac ; the same too if taken once 

 every forty days in drink. Taken in drink fasting, or eaten 

 with the food, it effectually prevents the recurrence of libidi- 

 nous dreams. The root too, used in the form of a liniment and 

 applied to the generative organs, not only represses all prurient 

 desires, but arrests the seminal secretions as well ; for which 

 reason, it is said to have a tendency to make flesh and to 

 improve the voice. ^^ 



The upper part of the root of xiphion,^ taken in wine, acts 

 as an aphrodisiac. The same is the case too with the wild 

 crethmos,- or agrios as it is called, and with horminum,' beaten 

 up mth polenta.* 



CHAP. 62. THE ORCHIS OE SEEAPIAS : FIVE MEDICIN^AL 



PJiOPERTIES, SATTKION. 



But there are few plants of so marvellous a nature as the 

 orchis ° or serapias, a vegetable production with leaves like 



3^ The following is the formula of this monstrous piece of absurdity : 

 " Negat Apollo pestem posse creseere cui nuda virgo restinguat." 

 95 See B. XXV. c. 94, «6 See B. xxv. c. 19. 



9' An unknown plant. 



^^ In B. xxv. c. 37. This alleged property of the Nymphsea is entirely 

 fabulous. 33 See B. xx. c. 13. 



1 See B. xxv. ce. 88 and 89. 2 gee B. xxv. c. 96. 



3 See B. xviii. cc. 10 and 22. * See B. xviii. c. 14. 



5 Identified by Littre with the Orchis undulatifolia, and by Fee with 

 the Orchis morio of Linnaeus, the Female orchis, or Female fool-stones. 

 Its aphrodisiac properties seem not to have been proved by modern ex- 

 perience, but it is nourishing in the highest degree. Linnaeus, however, 

 seems to be of opinion that it may have the effect of an aphrodisiac upon 



