174 PLINY'S NATTTBAL HISTORY. [Book XXVI. 



for desperate cases of dysentery, a decoction of roots of cinque - 

 foil in milk, or else aristolochia, 69 in the proportion of one 

 victoriatus 60 to three cyathi of wine. In the case of the pre- 

 parations above-mentioned, which are recommended to be taken 

 warm, it will be the best plan to heat them with a red-hot 

 iron. 



On the other hand, again, the juice of the smaller centaury 

 acts as a purgative upon the bowels, and carries off bile, taken, 

 in doses of one drachma, in one hemina of water with a little 

 salt and vinegar. The greater centaury is curative of griping 

 pains in the bowels. Be tony, also, has a laxative effect, taken 

 in the proportion of four drachmae to nine cyathi of hydromel : 

 the same, too, with euphorbia 61 or agaric, taken, in doses of two 

 drachm ae, with a little salt, in water, or else in three oboli of 

 honied wine. Cyclaminos, 62 also, is a purgative, either taken 

 in water or used as a suppository ; the same, too, with chamae- 

 cissos, 68 employed as a suppository. A handful of hyssop, 

 boiled down to one third with salt, or beaten up with oxymel 

 and salt, and applied to the abdomen, promotes pituitous 

 evacuations, and expels intestinal worms. Root also of peu- 

 cedanum 64 carries off pituitous humours and bile. 



CHAP. 35. EPITHYMON OK HIPPOPHEOS I EIGHT KEMEDIES. 



The two kinds of anagallis, taken in hydromel, are purgative ; 

 the same, too, with epithymon, 66 which is the blossom of a 

 sort 66 of thyme similar to savory ; the only difference being that 

 the flower of this plant is nearer grass green, while that of the 

 other thyme is white. Some persons call it " hippopheos." 67 

 This plant is by no means wholesome to the stomach, as 

 it is apt to cause vomiting, but at the same time it disperses 



59 See B. xxv. c. 54. 



60 See Introduction to Vol. III. Fee remarks that none of the assertions 

 in the present Chapter are confirmed by modern experience. 



61 See B. xxv. c. 38. 62 See B. xxv. c. 67. 



63 See B. xxiv. cc. 49, 84, and B. xxv. c. 69. 



64 See B. xxv. c. 70. 



65 Identical with the Orobanche of B. xviii. c. 44, the Cuscuta Europaea 

 of Linnaeus, Dodder, Hell-weed, or Devil's guts ; or else the Cuscuta 

 minor, or epithymum of Linnaeus. See also B. xxii. cc. 78, 80. 



66 He is in error here. 



67 Hardouin suggests "hypopheos," as " springing up under the Pheos" 

 or Sto3be, mentioned in B. xxii. c. 13. 



