188 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTOKT. [BookXXYI. 



Eor diseases of the fundament and for excoriations plantago 

 is remarkably efficacious ; for condylomata, cinquefoil ; and for 

 procidence of the rectum, root of cyclaminos, 83 applied in 

 vinegar. The blue anagallis 81 reduces procidence of the 

 rectum, while, on the contrary, that with a red flower has a 

 tendency to bear it down. Cotyledon 85 is a marvellous cure 

 for condylomatous affections and piles ; and root of acoron, 86 

 boiled in wine and beaten up, is a good application for swel- 

 ling of the testes. According to what Cato 87 says, those who 

 carry about them Pontic 88 wormwood, will never experience 

 chafing between the thighs. 



(9.) Some persons add pennyroyal to the number of these 

 plants : gathered fasting, they say, and attached to the hinder 

 part of the body, it will be an effectual preservative against 

 all pains in the groin, and will allay them in cases where they 

 already exist. 



CHAP. 59. INGUINALIS OR ARGEMO. 



Inguinalis 89 again, or, as some persons call it, "argemo," a 

 plant commonly found growing in bushes and thickets, needs 

 only to be held in the hand to be productive of beneficial effects 

 upon the groin. 



CHAP. 60. REMEDIES TOR INFLAMED TUMOURS. CHRYSIPPIOS 1 



ONE REMEDY. 



Panaces, 90 applied with honey, heals inflammatory tumours ; 

 an effect which is equally produced by plantago applied with 

 salt, cinquefoil, root of persolata 91 used in the same way as 

 for scrofula ; damasonium 92 also, and verbascum 93 pounded with 

 the root, and then sprinkled with wine, and wrapped in a leaf 

 warmed upon ashes, and applied hot. Persons of experience 

 in these matters have asserted that it' is of primary importance 

 that the application should be made by a maiden, as also that 

 she must be naked at the time, and fasting. The patient must 



83 See B. xxv. c. 67. 84 See B. xxv. c. 92. 



85 See B. xxv. c. 101. 86 See B. xxv. c. 100. 



87 De Re Rust. c. 159. He says that it must be carried under the ring. 



88 See B. xxvii. c. 28. 



89 The " Groin plant." Probably the same as the Bubonion of B. xxvii. 

 c. 19. 



30 See B. xxv. c. 11, et seq. 9l See c. 12 of this Book. 



M See B. xxv. c. 77. 23 See B. xxv. c. 73, 



