512 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XXIII. 



CHAP. 73. MEDLARS I TWO REMEDIES. SORBS : TWO REMEDIES. 



Medlars, the setania 16 excepted, which has pretty nearly 

 the same properties as the apple, act astringently upon the 

 stomach and arrest looseness of the bowels. The same is the 

 case, too, with dried sorbs ; 17 but when eaten fresh, they are 

 beneficial to the stomach, and are good for fluxes of the bowels. 



CHAP. 74. (8.) PINE-NUTS I THIRTEEN REMEDIES. 



Pine-nuts, 18 with the resin in them, are slightly bruised, and 

 then boiled down in water to one-half, the proportion of water 

 being one sextarius to each nut. This decoction, taken in 

 doses of two cyathi, is used for the cure of spitting of blood. 

 The bark of the tree, boiled in wine, is given for griping pains 

 in the bowels. The kernels of the pine-nut allay thirst, and 

 assuage acridities and gnawing pains in the stomach ; they 

 tend also to neutralize vicious humours in that region, recruit 

 the strength, and are salutary to the kidnej^s and the bladder. 

 They would seem, however, to exercise an irritating effect 19 

 upon the fauces, and to increase cough. Taken in water, wine, 

 raisin wine, or a decoction of dates, they carry off bile. For 

 gnawing pains in the stomach of extreme violence, they are 

 mixed with cucumber- seed and juice of purslain ; they are em- 

 ployed, too, in a similar manner for ulcerations of the bladder 

 and kidneys, 20 having a diuretic effect. 



CHAP. 75. ALMONDS I TWENTY-NINE REMEDIES. 



A decoction of the root of the bitter almond 21 clears the 

 complexion, and gives the face a brighter colour. 22 Bitter al- 

 monds are provocative of sleep, 23 and sharpen the appetite ; 



See B. XT. c. 22. " See B. xv. c. 23. 



18 They are no longer used in medicine, Fee says, but the buds of the 

 pine and fir, the properties of which are analogous, are still used, though, 

 not in cases of haemoptysis. 



19 In a rancid state particularly, they would have this effect. 



20 Fee thinks that the mixture might be useful in these cases. 



21 See B. xv. c. 24. 



22 " Hilariorem." At the present day it is not a decoction of the root, 

 but the fixed oil of the kernels, that is used as a cosmetic ; for which pur- 

 pose it is used with oil of sweet almonds and wax. 



23 Their narcotic effect is owing to the prussic, or hydro-cyanic, acid 

 which they contain. 



