518 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTOEY. [Book XXXI. 



boils. It is useful, also, for inflammations of the testes ; and, 

 in combination with axle-grease, for pituitous eruptions on all 

 parts of the body. For the cure of bites inflicted by dogs, it 

 is used with resin, the application being made at first with vine- 

 gar. With lime and vinegar, it is used as a liniment for stings 

 inflicted by serpents, as, also, for ulcerations, whether phage- 

 daenic, putrid, or serpiginous; in cases, too, of dropsy, it is 

 employed both internally and externally, beaten up with figs. 

 Taken internally as a decoction, in doses of one drachma, with 

 rue, dill, or cummin, it effectually removes griping pains in 

 the bowels. An external application of it, with oil and vine- 

 gar, is highly refreshing to persons exhausted with fatigue ; 

 and it is equally beneficial for shudderings and cold shiverings, 

 the feet and hands of the patient being well rubbed with it, 

 mixed with oil. It allays the itching sensations attendant 

 upon jaundice, more particularly when it is administered to 

 the patient while perspiring, with vinegar. Taken internally 

 in oxycrate, it is an antidote to the poison of fungi ; and, taken 

 with water, it acts beneficially, as an emetic, in cases where the 

 buprestis has been swallowed. 



To persons who have taken bull's blood, 95 nitrum is admi- 

 nistered, in combination with laser. 96 Mixed with honey and 

 cow's milk, it is curative of ulcers upon the face. For the cure 

 of burns, it is applied pounded, being first parched till it turns 

 black. For pains in the bowels and kidneys, and for rigidities 

 of the limbs and pains in the sinews, it is used in the form of 

 an injection. For the cure of paralysis of the tongue, it is 

 applied to that organ with bread, and to asthmatic patients it is 

 administered in a ptisan. Flower of nitrum, used in combi- 

 nation with equal proportions of galbanum and turpentine 

 respectively, is curative of chronic coughs ; the mixture being 

 taken in pieces the size of a bean. Nitrum 97 itself, boiled and 

 melted with tar, is given to patients to swallow, for quinzy. 



Flower of nitrum, mixed with oil of Cyprus, 98 and applied 

 in the sun, is a soothing liniment for pains in the joints. Taken 

 internally witji wine, it is curative of jaundice. It acts as 

 a carminative also ; and it arrests bleeding at the nose, the 



95 Viewed by the ancients as a poison, when taken warm ; but errone- 

 ously, as we have more than once remarked. 



96 See B. xix. c. 15. 



97 Nitre balls are still given to the patient to suck, in cases of sore 

 throat, *8 See B. xii. c. 51. 



