BOOK XX. XX. 39-43 



cooked in ash many have applied with barlev flour to 

 fluxes of the eyes, and to sores of the genitals. The 

 juice of onions they used as ointment for eye-sores, 

 albugo " and argeina,'' with honey for serpent bites 

 and all kinds of ulcers, with woman's milk for sore 

 ear-laps, and dropped it into them with goose grease 

 or honey for singing or hardness of hearing. Dihited 

 with water it was prescribed for those suddenly smit- 

 ten with dumbness. In toothache it was poured by 

 drops into the mouth to rinse the teeth ; Ukewise 

 on to wounds made by any wild beasts, especially to 

 those of scorpions. In nuinge and itcli crushed onions 

 have been rubbed on the places affected. Boiled 

 onions were given to eat to those affected by dysentery 

 or lunibago ; onion-peelitigs burnt to ash were appHed 

 in vinegar to serpent bites, and onions themselves 

 in vinegar for those of the multipede. Apart from 

 what has been said, there are remarkable differences 

 of opinion among physicians. The latest opinion 

 holds that they are injurious to the viscera and the 

 digestion, causing, it is said, flatulence and thirst. 

 The school of Asclepiades holds that, used as food, 

 onions promote a healthy complexion, and, if they 

 are eaten daily on an empty stomach, preserve a 

 good state of health, are useful to the stomach, 

 loosen the bowels by putting the air in motion, 

 disperse haemorroids when used as a suppository, and 

 the juice, added to that of fennel, is very beneficial 

 in cases of incipient dropsy ; added to rue and honey 

 it is used for quinsy, and for dispelHng lethargus. 

 Varro is our authority that an onion steeped in salt 

 and vinegar, and then dried, is not attacked by worms. 



in antiquity, being largely due to infected dust. See pp. 

 viii-x. 



27 



