208 pliny's NATUBAL HISTOKY. [Book XXYI. 



the same is the case with root of cyclaminos,^^ either used by 

 itself, or in combination with vinegar or honey. This last root 

 is useful also for the cure of steatomatous tumours, and hyssop 

 for that of running ulcers ; an effect equally produced by peu- 

 cedanum,'^a plant which exercises so powerful an influeuce upon 

 fresh wounds, as to cause exfoliation even of the bones. The two 

 varieties of anagallis^" are possessed of similar properties, and 

 act as a check upon the corrosive sores known as " nomse*' and 

 upon defluxions ; they are useful also in cases of recent wounds, 

 those of aged people in particular. Fresh leaves of mandra- 

 gora,^^ applied with cerate, are curative of apostemes and 

 sordid ulcers: the root too is used, with honey or oil, for wounds. 



Hemlock, incorporated with flour of winter wheat-^ by the 

 agency of wine — as also the plant aizoiim^" — is curative of her- 

 petic eruptions, and corrosive or putrid sores. Erigeron^^ 

 is employed for ulcers which breed maggots. Root of astra- 

 galus^^ is used for the cure of recent wounds or of ulcers of 

 long standing ; and upon these last either kind of hypocisthis^^ 

 acts as a detergent. Seed of leontopodium,^* bruised in water 

 and applied with polenta,^* extracts pointed weapons from the 

 flesh : a result equally produced by using seed of pycnocomon.^^ 

 The tithymalos characias^^ supplies its juice for the cure of gan- 

 grenes, phagedaenic sores, and putrid ulcers; or else a decoction 

 is made of the branches with polenta and oil. Roots of or- 

 chis ^^ have a similar efi'ect ; in addition to which, applied, 

 either dry or fresh gathered, with honey and vinegar, they are 

 curative of the ulcer known as " cacoethes." Onothera^^ also, 

 used by itself, is curative of ulcers when rapidly gaining head. 



The people of 8cythia employ scythice*° for the treatment 

 of wounds. For carcinoma, argemonia,'*^ applied with honey, 

 is extremely efficacious. For sores that have prematurely 

 closed, root of asphodel is boiled, in manner already^^ stated. 



25 See B. XXV. c. 67. ~^ See B. xxv. c. 70. 



27 See B. xxv. c. 92. 28 gee B. xxv. c. 94. 



23 " Siligo." See B. xviii. c. 20. ^o g^e B. xxv. c. 102. 



31 See B. xxv. c. 106. 32 gee c. 29 of this Book. 



3» See c. 31 of this Book. 34 gee B. xxvii. c. 72. 



3^ See B. xxviii. c. 14. 36 gee c. 36 of this Book. 



37 See c. 39 of this Book. 38 gee c. 62 of this Book. 



39 See c. 69 of this Book. 



40 Our "liquorice," see B. xxv. c. 43. 



^1 See B. xxv. c. 66. ^2 Iq b. xxii. c. 33. 



