Cliap. 100.] THE COMPOSITION OF THEEIACA. 299 



pith of the plant. There are some persons who think that 

 the seed should be administered for epilepsy, from the fourth 

 to the seventh day of the moon, in doses of one spoonful. 



Fennel-giant is naturally so inimical to the murama, that 

 the very touch of it even will kill that fish. Castor was of 

 opinion* that the juice of the root is extremely beneficial to 

 the sight. 



CHAP. 99. THE THISTLE OR SCOLYMOS I SIX REMEDIES. 



"We have already 91 spoken, when treating of the garden 

 plants, of the cultivation of the thistle ; we may as well, 

 therefore, not delay to mention its medicinal properties. Of 

 wild thistles there are two varieties ; one 93 of which throws 

 out numerous stalks immediately it leaves the ground, the 

 other 93 being thicker, and having but a single stem. They 

 have, both of them, a few leaves only, and covered with 

 prickles, the head of the plant being protected by thorny 

 points : the last mentioned, however, puts forth in the middle 

 of these points a purple blossom, which turns white with 

 great rapidity, and is carried off by the wind ; the Greeks 

 give it the name of " scolymos." 



This plant, gathered before it blossoms, and beaten up and 

 subjected to pressure, produces a juice, which, applied to the 

 head, makes the hair grow again when it has fallen off through 

 alopecy. The root of either kind, boiled in water, creates 

 thirst, it is said, in those who drink it. It strengthens the 

 stomach also, and if we are to believe what is said, has some 

 influence upon the womb in promoting the conception of male 

 offspring : at all events, Glaucias, who seems to ha.ve paid 

 the most attention to the subject, has written to that effect. 

 The thin juice, like mastich, which exudes from these plants, 

 imparts sweetness to the breath. 



CHAP. 100. (24.) THE COMPOSITION OF THETilACA. 



But as we are now about to leave the garden plants, we will 

 take this opportunity of describing a very famous preparation 



si Infi.xix. c. 43. 



92 This, Fee considers to be the Cinara carduncellus of Linnaeus, arti- 

 choke thistle, or Cardonette of Provence. 



93 The Cinara scolymus of Linnajus probably, our artichoke, which the 

 ancients do not appear to have eaten. Both the thistle and the artichoke 

 are now no longer employed in medicine. 



