Chap. 38.] THE LEAVES OF THE WILD OLIVE. 437 



down again, with omphacium, 61 to the consistency of honey, 

 it extracts decayed teeth; and, in combination with a decoc- 

 tion of lupines and the plant chamaeleon,* 2 it is a marvellous 

 cure for itch in beasts of burden. 63 Fomentations of anmrca 

 in a raw state 64 are extremely good for gout. 



CHAP. 38. (4.) THE LEAVES OF THE WILD OLIVE : SIXTEEN 



REMEDIES. 



The leaves of the wild olive are possessed of similar pro- 

 perties. The spodium 65 that is made by burning the young 

 branches is of remarkable efficacy for arresting fluxes; it 

 allays inflammations of the eyes also, acts as a detergent upon 

 ulcerous sores, makes the flesh grow on wounds from which it 

 has been removed, and acts gently as a caustic upon flesh}' 

 excrescences, drying them up and making them cicatrize. The 

 rest of its properties are similar to those of the cultivated olive. 

 There is, however, one peculiarity in it; the leaves, boiled 

 with honey, are given in doses of a spoonful for spitting of 

 blood. 66 The oil, too, of the wild olive is more acrid, and 

 possesses greater energy than that of the cultivated olive ; 

 hence it is that it is usual to rinse the mouth with it for the 

 purpose of strengthening the teeth. 67 



The leaves, too, are applied topically, with wine, to whit- 

 lows, carbuncles, and all kinds of gatherings; and, with 

 honey, to sores which require a detergent. Eoth a decoction 

 of the leaves and the natural juices of the wild olive form 

 ingredients in medicaments for the eyes ; and the latter are 

 found useful as an injection for the ears, in the case of puru- 

 lent discharges even. From the blossom of the wild olive a 

 liniment is prepared for eondylomata and epinyctis : it is ap- 

 plied also to the abdomen, with barley-meal, for fluxes, and to 

 the head, with oil, for head-ache. In cases where the scalp 

 becomes detached from the cranium, the young branches, 



si See B. xii. c. 60. 62 See B. xxii. c. 21. 



w Fee thinks that it might prove useful in this case. 



w Unboiled. 



*5 See c. 35. There is no analogy, Fee says, between marc of olives 

 and the leaves of the wild olive. 



This is hardly a peculiarity, for he has said already that the cultivated 

 olive is employed with honey to arrest the flow of blood. 



7 The tannin which it contains in great abundance may possibly have 

 this effect. 



