Chap. 69.] HERAOLEOTIC OEIGANUM. 269 



which is the darkest, has broader leaves than the others, and ia 

 of a glutinous nature ; the second, 26 which has leaves of a more 

 slender form, and not unlike sampsuchum 28 * in appearance, is 

 by some persous called " prasion," in preference : the third 20 

 is of an intermediate nature between the other two, but is 

 less efficacious for medicinal purposes than either. But the 

 best kind of all is that of Crete, for it has a particularly agree- 

 able smell ; the next best being that of Smyrna, which has 

 even a more powerful odour than the last. The Heracleotic 

 origanum, however, known by the name of " onitis," is the 

 one that is the most esteemed for taking in drink. 



Origanum, in general, is employed for repelling serpents ; 

 and it is given boiled to persons suffering from wounds. Taken 

 in drink, it is diuretic ; and mixed with root of panax, it is 

 given for the cure of ruptures and convulsions.. In combina- 

 tion with figs or hyssop, it is prescribed for dropsical patients 

 in doses of one acetabulum, being reduced by boiling to one 

 sixth. It is good also for the itch, 30 prurigo, and leprosy, 

 taken just before the bath. The juice of it is injected into the 

 ears with milk ; it being a cure, also, for affections of the 

 tonsils and the uvula, and for ulcers of the head. A decoction 

 of it, taken with the ashes in wine, neutralizes poison by 

 opium or gypsum. 31 Taken in doses of one acetabulum, it re- 

 laxes the bowels. It is applied as a liniment for bruises and 

 for tooth- ache ; and mixed with honey and nitre, it imparts 

 whiteness to the teeth. It has the effect, also, of stopping 

 bleeding at the nose. 



A decoction of this plant, with barley-meal, is employed for 

 imposthumes of the parotid glands ; and, beaten up with nut- 

 galls and honey, it is used for roughness of the trachea : the 

 leaves of it, with honey and salt, are good, too, for the spleen. 

 Eoiled with vinegar and salt, and taken in small doses, it at- 



28 The Marrubium Creticum, or peregrinum, probably, a variety of 

 horehound. See c. 67. 



8 * See B. xiii. c. 2, and B. xv. c. 7. 



29 The Origanum onites of Linnaeus, probably. See c. 67. 



30 Fee says that a strong infusion of pepperwort has been used in France 

 for the itch, with successful results. 



31 Sulphate of lime, which, as Fee remarks, though insoluble, does not 

 act as a poison, but causes a derangement of the digestive functions. The 

 wines of the Romans were extensively treated with this substance, and we 

 have seen in B,,xviii. that it was used as an ingredient in their bread. 



