Chap. 84.] THE MALLOW. 283 



goras has accused this plant of producing dropsy, jaundice, and 

 paleness of the complexion, and he says that it is extremely 

 difficult of digestion. He asserts, also, to its disparagement, 

 that every thing that grows near it in the garden is sure to 

 be drooping and languid. Diocles and Dionysius have added 

 a statement, that it gives birth to numerous diseases, and that it 

 should never be boiled without changing the water repeatedly ; 

 they say, too, that it is prejudicial to the stomach, and that 

 it is productive of freckles and pimples on the skin. 



I am at a loss to imagine why Solo of Smyrna has stated that 

 this plant is cultivated in Italy with the greatest difficulty. 

 Hippocrates 96 prescribes it with beet, as a pessary for affec- 

 tions of the uterus ; and Lycus of Neapolis recommends it to 

 be taken in drink, in cases of poisoning by cantharides. He 

 is of opinion, also, that either raw or boiled, it may be advan- 

 tageously employed as a liniment for inflammatory swellings, 

 incipient boils, and all kinds of indurations ; and that, mixed 

 with oxymel and nitre, it is good for erysipelas and gout. This 

 plant, it is said, will bring away mal-formed nails, without 

 producing sores. There are some persons who give orage-seed 

 with honey for jaundice, and rub the throat and tonsils with 

 it, nitre being added as well. They employ it, also, to purge 

 the bowels, and use the seed, boiled, as an emetic, 97 either taken 

 by itself, or in conjunction with mallows or lentils. 



Wild orage is used for dyeing the hair, as well as the other 

 purposes above enumerated. 



CHAP. 84. (21.) THE MALLOW CALLED MALOPE I THIRTEEN REME- 



DIES. THE MALLOW CALLED MALACHE I ONE REMEDY. THE 

 MALLOW CALLED ALTH^IA, OR PLISTOLOCHIA I FIFTY- NINE REME- 

 DIES. 



Both kinds of mallows, 98 on the other hand, the cultivated 

 and the wild, are held in very general esteem. These kinds 

 are subdivided, each of them, into two varieties, according to 



plex of Pliny is some kind of Chenopodium, which it is now impossible to 

 identify. Orage is more of an aliment than a medicament. Applied ex- 

 ternally, it is soothing and emollient. 



96 De Morb. Mulier. B. ii. c. 57. 



97 It would not have this effect. The statements here given relative to 

 the virtues of orage are, in general, considered to be correct. 



98 See B. xk. c. 22. 



