

Chap. 79.] BEMEDIES FOE ABSCESSES. 201 



Leaves of tussilago 18 are also used in water for this purpose ; 

 the seed of either kind of linozostis, 19 sprinkled in the drink, or 

 made into a decoction with chick-pease or wormwood : hyssop 

 berries taken in water; the plant lichen, 20 all other vege- 

 tables being carefully abstained from while it is being used ; 

 polythrix, 21 taken in wine ; and struthion, 22 in honied wine. 



CHAP. 77. REMEDIES FOR BOILS. 



There are boils also, known as " furunculi," 23 which make 

 their appearance indiscriminately on all parts of the body, and 

 are productive of the greatest inconvenience : sometimes 

 indeed, when the constitution is exhausted, they are fatal in 

 their effects. For their cure, leaves of pycnocoinon 24 are em- 

 ployed, beaten up with polenta, 25 if the boil has not come to a 

 head. They are dispersed also by an application of leaves of 

 ephedron. 26 



CHAP. 78. REMEDIES FOR FISTULA. 



Fistulas, too, insidiously attack all parts of the body, owing 

 to unskilfulness on the part of medical men in the use of the 

 knife. The smaller centaury 27 is used for their cure, with the 

 addition of lotions 28 and boiled honey : juice of plantago 29 is 

 also employed, as an injection ; cinquefoil, mixed with salt and 

 honey ; ladanum, 30 combined with castoreum ; 31 cotyledon, 32 

 applied hot with stag's marrow ; pith of the root of verbascum 33 

 reduced to a liquid state in the shape of a lotion, and injected ; 

 root of aristolochia ; 34 or juice of tithymalos. 35 



CHAP. 79. REMEDIES FOR ABSCESSES AND HARD TUMOURS. 



Abscesses and inflammations are cured by an application of 

 leaves of argemonia. 36 For indurations and gatherings of all 

 descriptions a decoction of vervain or cinquefoil in vinegar is 



18 Or Bechion. See B. xxiv. c. 85. 



19 See B. xxv. c. 19. 20 See c. 10 of this Book. 

 21 See B. xxv. c. 83. 22 See B. xix. c. 18. 



23 "Little thieves," literally. 24 See c. 36 of this Book. 



25 See B. xviii. c. 14. 26 See c. 83 of this Book. 



27 See B. xxv. c. 31. 28 " Collyriis." 



29 See B. xxv. c. 39 See B. xii. c. 37, and c. 30 of this Book. 



31 See B. viii. c. 47. 32 See B. xxv. c. 101. 



33 See B. xxv. c. 73. 34 See B. xxv. c. 54. 



*> See c. 39 of this Book. 36 See B. xxv. c. 56. 



