Chap. 38.] THE VITEX. 27 



white blossom mixed with purple, whereas the black one has a 

 flower that is entirely purple. Both of these trees grow on 

 level spots of a marshy nature. 



The seed of these trees, taken in drink, has a sort of vinous 

 flavour, and has the reputation of being a febrifuge. It is 

 said also to act as a sudorific, if the body is rubbed with it 

 mixed with oil, and to have the effect of dispelling extreme 

 lassitude : it acts too as a diuretic 69 and emmenagogue. The 

 produce of both trees is trying to the head, like wine, and 

 indeed the odour of them is very similar. They have the 

 effect also of removing flatulence in the lower regions of the 

 body, act astringently upon the bowels, and are remarkably 

 useful for dropsy and affections of the spleen. They promote 

 the secretion of the milk, and neutralize the venom of serpents, 

 when of a cold nature more particularly. The smaller kind, 

 however, is the more efficacious of the two for injuries inflicted 

 by serpents, the seed being taken in doses of one drachma, in 

 wine or oxycrate, or else the more tender leaves in doses of two 

 drachmae. 



From both trees also a liniment is prepared for the bites of 

 spiders, but it is quite sufficient to rub the wounds with the 

 leaves ; and if a fumigation is made from them, or if they are 

 spread beneath the bed, they will repel the attacks of all 

 venomous creatures. They act also as an antaphrodisiac, and 

 it is by this tendency in particular that they neutralize the 

 venom of the phalangium, the bite of which has an exciting 

 effect upon the generative organs. The blossoms and young 

 shoots, mixed with oil of roses, allay head-aches arising from 

 inebriation. A decoction of the seed used as a fomentation 

 cures head-ache, however intense it may be ; and employed as 

 a fumigation or as a pessary, the seeds acts as a detergent 

 upon the uterus. Taken in drink with honey and penny -royal, 

 it has a laxative effect ; pounded and used with barley-meal, 

 it quickly brings abscesses and hard tumours to a head, and 

 has an emollient effect. 



The seed, in combination with saltpetre and vinegar, removes 

 lichens and freckles ; mixed with honey, it heals ulcers and 

 eruptions of the mouth ; applied with butter and vine-leaves, 

 it reduces swellings of the testes ; used with water, as a lini- 



69 It may possibly, Fee says, have this effect, but the other properties 

 here attributed to it are wholly imaginary. 



