444 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XXII. 



CHAP. 62. MILLET I SIX REMEDIES. 



Millet 18 arrests looseness of the bowels and dispels gripings 

 of the stomach, for which purposes it is first parched. For 

 pains in the sinews, and of various other descriptions, it is 

 applied hot, in a bag, to the part affected. Indeed, there is 

 no better topical application known, as it is extremely light 

 and emollient, and retains heat for a very long time : hence it 

 is that it is so much employed in all those cases in which the 

 application of heat is necessary. The meal of it, mixed with 

 tar, is applied to wounds inflicted by serpents and millepedes. 



CHAP. 63. PANIC : FOUR REMEDIES. 



Diocles, the physician, has given to panic 19 the name of 

 " honey of corn." 20 It has the same properties as millet, and, 

 taken in wine, it is good for dysentery. In a similar manner, 

 too, it is applied to such parts of the body as require to be 

 treated with heat. Boiled in goats'-milk, and taken twice 

 a-day, it arrests looseness of the bowels ; and, used in a similar 

 manner, it is very good for gripings of the stomach. 



CHAP. 64. SESAME I SEVEN REMEDIES. SESAMOIDES I THREE 



REMEDIES. ANTICYRICUM I THREE REMEDIES. 



Sesame, 21 pounded and taken in wine, arrests vomiting : it 

 is applied also topically to inflammations of the ears, and burns. 

 It has a similar effect even while in the blade ; and in that 

 state, a decoction of it in wine is used as a liniment for the 

 eyes. As an aliment it is injurious to the stomach, and im- 

 parts a bad odour to the breath. It is an antidote to the bite 

 of the spotted lizard, and heals the cancerous sore known as 

 " cacoethes." 22 The oil made from it, as already 23 mentioned, is 

 good for the ears. 



Sesamoides 24 owes its name to its resemblance to sesame ; 



18 See B. xviii. c. 24. 



19 See B. xviii. c. 25. 20 "Mel frugum." 



21 See B, xviii. c. 22. It is still used in medicine in Egypt, and as a 

 cosmetic. 



22 Or " bad habit." 



25 In B. xv. c. 7. See also B. xxiii. c. 49. Fee thinks it not unlikely 

 that oil of sesame might have this effect. The people of Egypt still look 

 upon this grain as an antophthalmic, hut, as Fee says, without any good 

 reason. 



24 " Like sesame." 



