Chap. 41.] CASTOR OIL. 489 



relieves gripings of the stomach and expels intestinal worms, 

 Taken in doses of one heraina with wine and warm water, or 

 else with barley water, 74 it acts as a purgative upon the bowels. 

 It is useful, also, in the composition of plasters for wounds, 

 and it cleanses the complexion of the face. Injected into the 

 nostrils of oxen, till it produces eructation, it cures attacks of 

 flatulency. 



When old it is of a more warming nature than when new, 

 and acts more energetically as a sudorific, and as a resolvent 

 for indurations. It is very efficacious 75 in cases of lethargy, 

 and more particularly in the decline of the disease. Mixed 

 with an equal proportion of honey which has not been smoked, 76 

 it contributes in some degree to the improvement of the sight. 

 It is a remedy, also for head- ache ; and, in combination with 

 water, for the burning attacks in fevers. If old oil should 

 happen not to be at hand, the new oil is boiled to act as a sub- 

 stitute for it. 



CHAP. 41. CASTOR OIL I SIXTEEN REMEDIES. 



Castor 77 oil, taken with an equal quantity of warm water, acts 

 as a purgative 78 upon the bowels. It is said, too, that as a 

 purgative this oil acts more particularly upon the regions of 

 the diaphragm. 79 It is very useful for diseases of the joints, 

 all kinds of indurations, affections of the uterus and ears, and 

 for burns : employed with the ashes of the murex, 80 it heals 

 itch-scabs and inflammations of the fundament, It improves 

 the complexion also, and by its fertilizing tendencies promotes 

 the growth of the hair. The cicus, or seed from which this 

 oil is made, no animal will touch ; and from these grape-like 

 seeds 81 wicks are made, 82 which burn with a peculiar brilliancy ; 



74 " Ptisanae succo." 



75 Fee thinks that it can have no such efficacy, whether it be olive oil 

 or oil of cenanthe that is the subject of discussion. 



76 Acapni." See B. xi. c. 15. 



77 " Oleum cicinum." See B. xv. c. 7. 



78 It is still used in medicine for the same purpose. 



79 " Pracordia ;" either the diaphragm, or the parts above it, such as 

 the heart and chest. 



* See B. ix. c. 52. 61 See B. xv. o. 7. 



82 Fee is at a loss to know how these wicks could have been made : 

 most probably, however, the seeds were Beaten up into a pulp for the pur- 

 pose. The oil is still used for lamps in some countries, though, as Pliny 

 says, in consequence of its extreme thickness, the light it gives is not 

 good. 



