Chap. 15.] COUGH. 163 



arrests scrofula, they say : the same being the case also with 

 vervain, in combination with plantago. For the cure of all 

 diseases of the fingers, hangnails in particular, cinquefoil is 

 used, 



CHAP. 15. COUGH. 



Of all diseases of the chest, cough is the one that is the 

 most oppressive. For the cure of this malady, root of pa- 

 naces 61 in sweet wine is used, and in cases where it is attended 

 with spitting of blood, juice of henbane. Henbane, too, used as 

 a fumigation, is good for cough ; and the same with scordotis, 62 

 mixed with nasturtium and dry resin, beaten up with honey : 

 employed by itself also, scordotis facilitates expectoration, a 

 property which is equally possessed by the greater centaury, 

 even where the patient is troubled with spitting of blood ; for 

 which last juice of plantago is very beneficial. Betony, taken 

 in doses of three oboli in water, is useful for purulent or 

 bloody expectorations : root also of persolata, 68 in doses of 

 one drachma, taken with eleven pine-nuts ; and juice of peu- 

 cedanum. 64 



For pains in the chest, acoron 85 is remarkably useful ; hence 

 it is that it is so much used an ingredient in antidotes. For 

 cough, daucus <* and the plant scythice 67 are much employed, 

 this last being good, in fact, for all affections of the chest, 

 coughs, and purulent expectorations, taken in doses of three 

 oboli, with the same proportion of raisin wine. The verbas- 

 cum 68 too, with a flower like gold, is similarly employed. 



(6.) This last-named plant is so remarkably energetic, that 

 an infusion of it, administered in their drink, will relieve 

 beasts of burden, not only when troubled with cough, but when 

 broken- winded even a property which I find attributed to 

 gentian also. Root of cacalia 69 chewed, or steeped in wine, is 

 good for cough as well as all affections of the throat. Five 

 sprigs of hyssop, with two of rue and three figs, act detergently 

 upon the thoracic organs and allay cough, 



61 See B. xxv. c. 11. 62 See B. xxv. c. 27. 



63 See B. xxv. c. 66. * See B. xxv. c. 70. 



5 See B. xxv. c. 100. 65 See B. xxv. c. 64. 



67 See B. xxii. c. 11, and B. xxv. c. 43. Our Liquorice probably, which, 

 Fee remarks, as also figs and hyssop, has maintained its ancient reputation 

 as a pectoral. 



68 See B. XXY. c. 73. 69 See B. xxv. c. 85. 



