408 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



Pliny, that our ancestors devised this honour- 

 able reward, to secure the good health of 

 the victorious charioteer, as judging him wor- 

 thy to live, who should gain the prize. This 

 author says, there is not a decoction of any 

 herb of so great antiquity as that of worm- 

 wood. It was in great esteem as a common 

 drink in his days, and was considered both 

 astringent and diuretic; it was said to prevent 

 sea-sickness, and to cleanse the stomach of 

 those humours which cause loathing of food, 

 and thereby to restore the appetite. The 

 smell of wormwood was thought to procure 

 sleep to invalids. The ancients also put it 

 into their ink to prevent mice from eating 

 their writings ; they laid it in wardrobes to 

 keep off the moth ; and it was burnt to drive 

 gnats away by the smoke. The ashes of 

 this plant were mixed with the oil of roses 

 to blacken the hair of the head, and a decoc- 

 tion of wormwood and parsley was given as 

 a remedy for the jaundice. Wormwood was 

 also given to those who had eaten poisonous 

 mushrooms. It was mixed with honey and 

 nitre for the quinsy. Chilblains were also 

 bathed with a decoction of this herb. 



Pliny mentions the wormwood of Gaul, 

 but says that of Pontus is the best, being 



