376 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XXL 



ternally with mustard, they dispel chronic fluxes of the fauces, 

 as well as various affections of the stomach and bowels. Still, 

 however, these plants must be used in moderation, as they are 

 of a heating nature, for which reason it is that they act so 

 astringently upon the bowels. In cases of ulceration of the 

 intestines, the dose should be one denarius of thyme to one 

 sextarius of oxymel ; the same proportions, too, should be taken, 

 for pains in the sides, between the shoulder-blades, or in the 

 thoracic organs. Taken with oxymel, these plants are used for 

 the cure of intestinal diseases, and a similar draught is admin- 

 istered in cases of alienation of the senses and melancholy. 



Thyme is given also for epilepsy, when the fits come on, the 

 smell of it reviving the patient ; it is said, too, that epileptic 

 persons should sleep upon soft thyme. It is good, also, for 

 hardness of breathing, and for asthma and obstructions of the 

 catamenia, A decoction of thyme in water, boiled down to 

 one-third, brings away the dead foetus, and it is given to males 

 with oxymel, as a remedy for flatulency, and in cases of swell- 

 ing of the abdomen or testes and of pains in the bladder. Ap- 

 plied with wine, it removes tumours and fluxes, and, in com*- 

 bination with vinegar, callosities and warts. Mixed with wine, 

 it is used as an external application for sciatica ; and, beaten 

 up with oil and sprinkled upon wool, it is employed for diseases 

 of the joints, and for sprains. It is applied, also, to burns, 

 mixed with hogs' lard. For maladies of the joints of recent 

 date, thyme is administered in drink, in doses of three oboli to 

 three cyathi of oxymel. For loss of appetite, it is given, beaten 

 up with salt. 



CHAP. 90. FOUR REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THE HEMEROCALLES. 



The hemerocalles 97 has a soft, pale green leaf, with an odo- 

 riferous, bulbous root. This root, applied with honey to the 

 abdomen, draws off the aqueous humours and all corrupt blood. 

 The leaves of it are applied for defluxions of the eyes, and for 

 pains in the mamillae, after childbirth. 



CHAP. 91. FIVE REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THE HELENIUM. 



The helenium, which springs, as we have already 98 stated, 



97 See c. 33 of this Book. The Pancratium maritimum, if that plant is 

 identical with it, is but little used, but has a marked action, Fee says, 

 upon the human frame. 98 In c. 33 of this Book. 



