Chap. 53.] HONIED WINE. 437 



taken warm, it promotes vomiting. With the addition of oil 

 it counteracts the poison of white lead; 76 of henbane, also, 

 and of the halicacabum, as already stated, 77 if taken in milk' 

 asses' milk in particular. It is used as an injection for dis- 

 eases of the ears, and in cases of fistula of the generative 

 organs. With crumb of bread it is applied as a poultice to 

 the uterus, as also to tumours suddenly formed, sprains, and 

 all affections which require soothing applications. The more 

 recent writers have condemned the use of fermented hydro- 

 mel, as being not so harmless as water, and less strengthening 

 than wine. After it has been kept a considerable time, it 

 becomes transformed into a wine, 78 which, it is universally 

 agreed, is extremely prejudicial to the stomach, and injurious 

 to the nerves. 79 



CHAP. 53. HONIED WINE I SIX REMEDIES. 



As to honied 80 wine, that .is always the best which has been 

 made with old wine : honey, too, incorporates with it very 

 readily, which is never the case with sweet 81 wine. When 

 made with astringent wine, it does not clog the stomach, nor 

 has it that effect when the honey has been boiled : in this last 

 case, too, it causes less flatulency, an inconvenience generally 

 incidental to this beverage. It acts as a stimulant also upon 

 a tailing appetite ; taken cold it relaxes the bowels, but used 

 warm it acts astringently, in most cases, at least. It has a 

 tendency also to make flesh. Many persons have attained an 

 extreme old age, by taking bread soaked in honied wine, and 

 no other diet the famous instance of Pollio Romilius, for ex- 

 ample. This man was more than one hundred years old when 

 the late Emperor Augustus, who was then his host, 82 asked 



76 It is the oil, Fee says, and not the hydromel, that combats the effects 

 of the white lead, a subcarbonate of lead. 



17 In B. xxi. c. 105. 78 Mead, or metheglin. 



79 This is, perhaps, the meaning of " nervis" here, but it is very doubt- 

 ful. See Note 9 , in p. 77 of Vol. III. 



so "Mulsum." 



81 " Dulci." Fee thinks, but erroneously, that by this word he means 

 "must," er grape-juice, and ccmbats the assertion. Honied wine, he 

 ays, is used at the present day (in France, of course,) as a popular cure 

 for recent wounds and inveterate ulcers. As a beverage, it was very highly 

 esteemed by the ancients. See B. vii. c. 54. 



83 "Hospes." It may possibly mean his "guest," but the other is 

 more probable. 



