136 PLINY'S NATUBAL HISTORY. [Book XXV. 



CHAP. 91. (12.) REMEDIES FOE DISEASES OF THE EYES. 



It is generally thought that the greater centaury 40 strengthens 

 the sight, if the eyes are fomented with it steeped in water ; 

 and that by employing the juice of the smaller kind, in com- 

 bination with honey, films and cloudiness may be dispersed, 

 marks obliterated, and small flies removed which have got 

 into the eye. It is thought also that sideritis is curative of 

 albugo in beasts of burden. As to chelidonia, 41 it is marvel- 

 lously good for all the affections above mentioned. Boot of 

 panaces 42 is applied, with polenta, 43 to defluxions of the eyes ; 

 and for the purpose of keeping them down, henbane- seed is 

 taken, in doses of one obolus, with an equal proportion of 

 opium, in wine. Juice, too, of gentian is used as a lini- 

 ment, and it sometimes forms an ingredient in the more ac- 

 tive eyesalves, 44 as a substitute for meconium. Euphorbia, 45 

 applied in the form of a liniment, improves the eyesight, 

 and for ophthalmia juice of plantago 46 is injected into the 

 eyes. 



Aristolochia disperses films upon the eyes; and iberis, 47 

 attached to the head with cinquefoil, is curative of defluxions 

 and other diseases of the eyes. Yerbascum 48 is applied topi- 

 cally to defluxions of the eyes, and vervain is used for a 

 similar purpose, with rose oil and vinegar. For the treat- 

 ment of cataract and dimness of sight, cyclaminos is reduced 

 to a pulp and divided into lozenges. Juice, too, of peu- 

 cedanum, as already mentioned, 49 mixed with meconium and oil 

 of roses, is good for the sight, and disperses films upon the 

 eyes. Psyllion, 60 applied to the forehead, arrests defluxions of 

 the eyes. 



CHAP. 92. (13.) THE ANA&ALLIS, OR COBCHORON ,' TWO VARIE- 

 TIES OF IT I SIX REMEDIES. 



The anagallis is called " corchoron" 51 by some. There are 



40 All the plants here mentioned are of a more or less irritating nature, 

 and would greatly imperil the sight. 



1 See c. 50 of this Book. 42 See c. 11 of this Book. 



3 See B. xviii. c. 14, and B. xxii. c. 59, **> " Collyriis." 



5 A most dangerous application, in reality. 



6 A comparatively harmless, though useless application. 



7 See c. 49 of this Book. ** See c. 73 of this Book. 

 9 In c. 70 of this Book. 50 See c. 90 of this Book. 



51 The Corchorus of B. xxi. c. 106, is most probably altogether a differ- 

 ent plant. 



