Chap. 54.] PENHYBOYAL. 259 



duced to powder, a pinch of it with three fingers taken in 

 water, will cure stomach-ache. 72 Sprinkled in this form in 

 drink, it is said to have the effect of expelling intestinal 

 worms. 



CHAP 54. PENNYKOYAL : TWENTY -FIVE EEMED1ES. 



Pennyroyal 73 partakes with mint, in a very considerable 

 degree, the property 74 of restoring consciousness in fainting fits ; 

 slips of both plants being kept for the purpose in glass bottles 75 

 filled with vinegar. It is for this reason that Varro has de- 

 clared that a wreath of pennyroyal is more worthy to grace 

 our chambers 76 than a chaplet of roses : indeed, it is said that, 

 placed upon the head, it materially alleviates head-ache. 77 

 It is generally stated, too, that the smell of it alone will pro- 

 tect the head against the injurious effects of cold or heat, and 

 that it acts as a preventive of thirst ; also, that persons ex- 

 posed to the sun, if they carry a couple of sprigs of penny- 

 royal behind the ears, will never be incommoded by the heat. 

 For various pains, too, it is employed topically, mixed with 

 polenta and vinegar. 



The female 78 plant is the more efficacious of the two ; it has 

 a purple flower, that of the male being white. Taken in cold 

 water with salt and polenta it arrests nausea, as well as pains 

 of the chest and abdomen. Taken, too, in water, it prevents 

 gnawing pains of the stomach, and, with vinegar and polenta, 

 it arrests vomiting. In combination with salt and vinegar, 

 and polenta, it loosens the bowels. Taken with boiled honey 

 and nitre, it is a cure for intestinal complaints. Employed 



72 It is only in this case and the next, Fee says, that modern experience 

 agrees with our author as to the efficacy of mint. 



73 The Menta pulegium of Linnaeus. 



74 Its medicinal properties are similar to those of mint ; which is a good 

 stomachic, and is useful for hysterical and hypochondriac affections, as well 

 as head-ache. We may therefore know how far to appreciate the medi- 

 cinal virtues ascribed by Pliny to these plants. 



75 "Ampullas." 



76 "Cubiculis:" " sleeping-chambers." It was very generally the 

 practice among the ancients to keep odoriferous plants in their bed-rooms ; 

 a dangerous practice, now held in pretty general disesteem. 



77 Strong odours, as Fee remarks, are not generally beneficial for head- 

 ache. 



79 Dioscorides makes no such distinction, and botanically speaking, as 

 Fee observes, this distinction is faulty. 



S 2 



