Chap. 94.] MEUM. 295 



an injection, with oil or honey, it is beneficial for dangerous 

 affections of the chest and intestines. 



CHAP. 93. ELITE : SIX REMEDIES. 



Elite 64 seems to be a plant of an inert nature, without 

 flavour or any pungency whatever ; hence it is that, in 

 Menander, we find husbands giving this name to their wives, 

 by way of 65 reproach. It is % prejudicial to the stomach, and 

 disturbs the bowels to such a degree, as to cause cholera in 

 some. It is stated, however, that, taken in wine, it is good 

 for the stings of scorpions ; and that it is sometimes used as a 

 liniment for corns on the feet, and, with oil, for affections of 

 the spleen and pains in the temples. Hippocrates is of opi- 

 nion, that if taken with the food, 67 it will arrest the menstrual 

 discharge. 



CHAP. 94. (23.) MEUM, AND MEUM ATHAMANTICUM : SEVEN 



KEMED1ES. 



Meum 68 is never cultivated in Italy except by medical men, 

 and by very few of those. There are two varieties of it, the 

 finer kind being known as " athamanticum," because, accord- 

 ing to some, it was first discovered by Athamas ; or else be- 

 cause, as others think, that of the best quality is found upon 

 Mount Athamas. 69 The leaf of it is similar to that of dill, and 

 the stem is sometimes as much as two cubits in length : the 

 roots, which run obliquely, are numerous and mostly black, 

 though sometimes white : it is not of so red a hue as the other 

 kind. 



The root of this plant, pounded or boiled, and taken in water, 

 is diuretic, and is marvellously efficacious for dispelling flatu- 

 lency of the stomach. It is good, too, for gripings of the bowels 

 and affections of the bladder : applied with honey to the 



64 The Blitum capitatum of Linnaeus. 



65 Hence, too, the Latin word " bliteus," meaning "insipid," "sense- 

 less," or ' worthless." 



6(i This is not the case, it being as innocuous as it is insipid. Applied 

 topically, the leaves are emollient. 



67 There is no foundation, Fee say^ for this opinion. 



68 The -ZEthusa meum of Linnoeus ; our Spignel, or Baldmoney, the 

 Athamanta Matthioli of Wulf. By some authorities it is called Feni- 

 culum Alpinum perenne. It is possessed of exciting properties, and is no 

 longer used in medicine. , 69 See B. iv. c. 8. 



