BOOK XX. xiii. 26-xiv. 29 



intestinal worms ; a decoction of them boiled down 

 to one third, drunk with wine, is good for intestinal 

 hernia ; so taken they draw off superfluous " blood. 

 For these purposes and for spitting of blood Medius 

 prescribes that they should be given cooked, as well 

 as to women lying-in to increase tlie supply of milk ; 

 Hippocrates that radishes should be rubbed on the 

 head of women when the hair falls off, and that they 

 should be placed on the navel for pains in the womb. 

 Thev also bring scars back to the original colour of 

 the skin. An appUcation also of the seed soaked in 

 water arrests ulcers called phagedaenae.'' Demo- 

 critus thinks that as a food radishes are aphrodisiac ; 

 for tliis reason, perhaps, some have maintained that 

 they are injurious to the voice. The leaves, but only 

 those of the long radish, are said to improve the eye- 

 sight ; should however too strong a dose of radish be 

 applied as a remedy, they prescribe the immediate 

 use of hyssop, for it is antipathetic. For deafness 

 the juice of the radish is dropped into the ear. But," 

 for those who would vomit, it is very useful to eat 

 radishes after a meal. 



XIV. Like the carrot is the hibiscum, which some Marsh 

 call the wild mallow, and others TrXeiaroXoxeia;'^ '"^" ""'' 

 it is a cure for ulcers and for brokeii cartilages and 

 bones. The leaves, taken in water, rehix the 

 bowels ; they keep serpents away, and used as a 

 Hniment heal the stings of bees, wasps and hornets. 

 Its root dug up before sun-rise is wraj^ped in wool of 

 the colour called " natural," taken moreover from 

 a ewe that has given birth to a ewe lamb, and bound 

 on scrofulous sores, even when they have suppurated. 

 Some think that when it is to be used for this purpose 

 the root should be dug up with a tool of gold, care 



19 



