486 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XXIII. 



Black olives, on the other hand, are not so wholesome for 

 the upper regions of the stomach, but are better for the 

 bowels ; they are not good, however, for the head or for the 

 eyes. Eoth kinds, pounded and applied topically, are good 

 for the cure of burns, but the black olive is sometimes chewed 

 first, and instantly applied to the sore, for the purpose of pre- 

 venting blisters from forming. Colymbades 66 act as a deter- 

 gent for foul ulcers, but they are bad for persons suffering 

 from strangury. 



CHAP. 37. AMURCA. OF OLIVES I TWENTY-ONE REMEDIES. 



As to the amurca of olives, we might appear to have said 

 enough on the subject already, 57 taking Cato as our guide ; it 

 remains, however, to speak of the medicinal uses of this sub- 

 stance. It is extremely serviceable as a strengthener of the 

 gums, 58 and for the cure of ulcers of the mouth ; it has the 

 effect, also, of strengthening loose teeth in the sockets, and an 

 application of it is good for erysipelas and spreading ulcers. 

 For chilblains, the amurca of the black olive is the best, as 

 also as a fomentation for infants ; that of the white olive is 

 used, with wool, as a pessary for affections of the uterus. Of 

 both kinds, however, the amurca is much more serviceable 

 when boiled ; this being done in a vessel of Cyprian copper, to 

 the consistency of honey. Thus prepared/ it is used, accord- 

 ing to the necessities of the case, with either vinegar, old 

 wine, or honied wine, for the treatment of maladies of the 

 mouth, teeth, and ears, and for running ulcers, 59 diseases of the 

 generative organs, and chaps on various parts of the body. It 

 is employed topically, for the cure of wounds, in a linen 

 pledget, and for sprains, in wool : as a medicament, it is of great 

 utility, more particularly when old, as in such case it effects 

 the cure of fistula. 60 



It is used as an injection for ulcerations of the fundament, 

 the generative organs, and the uterus, and is employed topi- 

 cally for incipient gout and diseases of the joints. Boiled 



56 Or preserved olives. See B. xv. c. 4. 



57 B. xv. c. 8. 



58 Fee thinks that it would exercise quite a contrary effect. Marc of 

 olives is no longer used in medicine. 



* It would produce no good effect in the treatment of ulcers. 

 60 Fee remarks that it would have no such effect. 



