BOOK XX. XV. 32-xvin. 36 



scorpions when taken in wine or vinegar and water. 

 Its root used as a dentifrice is a cure for tooth- 

 ache. 



XVI. In Syria very great pains are taken over 

 kitchen-gardens ; hence the Greek proverb : " Syrians 

 have plenty of vegetables." They sow a vegetable 

 called by some gingidion that is very like staphyHnus, 

 only it is shghter and more bitter, though its pro- 

 perties are the same. It is eaten, cooked or raw, 

 with great advantage to the stomach, for it dries up 

 all its humom-s, however deep these may He. 



XVII. Wild (or stray) parsnip is Hke the culti- Parsnip. 

 vated kind and has similar properties. It stimulates 



the appetite, banishing distaste for food, if taken in 

 vinegar and silphium," or with pepper and honey wine, 

 or if you like with fish sauce. It is both diuretic, as 

 Ophion beHeves, and an aphrodisiac. Diocles too is 

 of the same opinion, and moreover thinks that it acts 

 as a cordial in convalescence, or is very useful after 

 many vomitings. HeracHdes prescribed it for mer- 

 cury poisoning, for occasional impotence and in 

 convalescence. Hicesius said that the reason why 

 it appeared to be harmful to the stomach was that 

 no one could eat three skirrets in succession ; adding 

 however that it was beneficial to convalescents who 

 are beginning to take wine again. The juice, 

 especially of the cultivated variety, checks looseness 

 of the bowels if drunk with goats' milk. 



XVIII. Since most people confuse the two similar Hartvmt. 

 Greek names, oioapov and oeoeXt {oiXt), we have 

 added some account of siH or hartwort, though it is a 

 plant generaUy known. The best is that of MassiHa, 



for its seed is broad and vcllow ; the next best, 

 the Aethiopian, is darker, and the Cretan has the 



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