498 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTOHT. [Book XXIII. 



CHAP. 56. CITRONS : FIVE OBSERVATIONS UPON THEM. 



Citrons, 41 either the pulp of them or the pips, are taken in 

 wine as an antidote to poisons. A decoction of citrons, or the- 

 juice extracted from them, is used as a gurgle to impart sweet- 

 ness to the breath. 42 The pips of this fruit are recommended 

 for pregnant women to chew when affected with qualmish- 

 ness. Citrons are good, also, for a weak stomach, but it is not 

 easy to eat them except with vinegar. 43 



CHAP. 57. PUNIC APPLES OR POMEGRANATES: TWENTY-SIX 

 REMEDIES. 



It would be a mere loss of time to recapitulate the nine 4 * 

 different varieties of the pomegranate. The sweet pome- 

 granates, or, in other words, those known by the name of 

 " apyrena," 45 are generally considered to be injurious to the 

 stomach ; they are productive, also, of flatulenc} T , and are bad 

 for the teetli and gums. The kind which closely resembles the 

 last in flavour, and which we have spoken of as the " vinous" 

 pomegranate, has very diminutive pips, and is thought to be 

 somewhat more wholesome than the others. They have an 

 astringent effect upon the stomach and bowels, provided they 

 are taken in moderation, and not to satiety ; but even these, 

 or, indeed, any other kind, should never be given in fevers, as 

 neither the substance nor the juice of the fruit acts otherwise 

 than injuriously under those circumstances. They should, 

 also, be equally 46 abstained from in cases of vomiting and 

 bilious evacuations. 



In this fruit Xature has revealed to us a grape, and, so to 

 say, not must, but a wine ready made, both grape and wine 

 being enclosed in a tougher skin. 47 The rind of the sour 

 pomegranate is employed for many purposes. It is in very 



41 Sec B. xii. c. 7. 42 See B. xi. c. 15, and B. xii. c. 7. 



43 As Fee says, this observation is quite unaccountable. He queries 

 whether a sweet fruit may not possibly be meant, the sweet lime, for in- 

 stance, the flavour of which is very sickly, and would require to be 

 heightened by the assistance of an acid. 



44 See B. xiii. c. 34 ; where, however, he has only distinguished them 

 according to their flavour, sweet, vinous, &c. 



45 u Without pips." See B. xiii. e. &4. 



46 This and the previous precaution given, Fee considers to be mere 

 puerilities. 



47 Than that of the ordinary grape, probably. 



