MYRTACEZ. 33 
superstitions concerning the myrtle extending down to modern 
times, see De Gubernatis (Myth. des Plantes, II., 283). 
The myrtle occupies a prominent place in the writings of 
__ Hippocrates, Pliny, Dioscorides, Galen, and the Arabian 
“writers. Pliny furnishes an account of it, of which the following 
is a summary: The berries arrest hemoptie ; they are used in 
dysentery and as an application to indolent ulcers and inflamed 
eyes; and in wine are an antidote to the poison of mushrooms; 
they also cure the bites of scorpions, inflammation of the blad- 
der, headaches, abscesses, aphthe, leucorrhces, and other 
mucous discharges. The juice is diuretic, but constipates. 
An ointment made with it cures eruptions of the skin and 
_ darkens the hair. The dried leaves in powder arrest sweats ; 
in fomentations check the white flux, correct prolapsus of the 
- womb and rectum, and are employed to cure ulcers, burns, 
_ erysipelas, otorrhcea, alopecia, and eruptions of the skin, to 
_ arrest hemorrhage, and as an application to lentigo, ptery- 
gion, panaris, condylomata, and swelled testicles. A wine 
_ made from the berries was used for most of these purposes, 
_ andwasregardedas tonic. Thus catalogue of virtuesis repeated, 
but hardly enlarged, by subsequent ancient writers, who, 
owever, following Galen, ascribe to myrtle the opposite quali- 
ties of cold and hot, or astringent and stimulant, the former 
residing chiefly in the leaves, the latter in the berries. 
In 1876 attention was directed to the medicinal properties of 
the plant by Delioux de Savignac, who recommended an infu- 
sion or diluted tincture of the leaves as an astringent lotion, 
and the finely powdered leaves as an application to ulcers, &c. 
He also used the powder in doses of -1 to 4 grams internally 
_ in chronic catarrh of the bladder and in menorrhagia; and 
_ the infusion in chronic bronchitis. The Oxymyrsine or ‘ wild 
_ myrtle,” mentioned by the ancients, the Aas-el-bart of Mahome- 
; tan writers, is not a myrtle, but the Ruscus aculeatus or ; 
_ “buteher’s broom.” : 
_ __ Of late years the volatile oil of myrtleleaves has been brought 
_ to notice as an antiseptic and rubefacient when used exter 
nally; Mes inteelaigs3 in spell ee! poe 
i 
