BOOK XX. XXIV. 58-xxvi. 62 



cyathus of water, is prescribed for dropsical patients. 

 The crushed stalk and leaves, sprinkled with salt, 

 cure a cut sinew. The pounded plant and vinegar, 

 used as a mouth-wash twice a month in the morning, 

 keeps away toothache. 



XXV. There is a second kind, called caesapon by varions 

 the Greeks, the pounded leaves of which, made into fj^",f^/^ 

 an ointment with pearl-barley," heal sores. These two 

 grow in the open fields. A third kind growing in 

 woods is called tcjaTtS". Its leaves pounded up with 

 pearl-barley are good for wounds. A fourth kind is 

 used by dyers of wools. Its leaves woukl be Uke those 



of wild sorrel, were they not more numerous and 

 darker. By its root or leaves it stanches bleeding, 

 heals phagedaenic and putrefying ulcers, spreading 

 ulcers, tumours before suppuration, and erysipelas. 

 Taken in drink it is good even for the spleen. Such 

 are the peculiar properties of the several kinds. 



XXVI. The characteristics, however, common to 

 the wild kinds are whiteness, a stem occasionally a 

 cubit long, and a roughness on the stalk and on the 

 leaves. Of these kinds, one with round, short leaves 

 is called by some hieracion (hawkweed), since hawks, 

 by tearing it open and wetting their eyes with the 

 juice, dispel poor vision when they have bf^come 

 conscious of it. The juice in all of them is white, in 

 its properties, also, Uke that of the poppy ; coUected 

 at harvest by cutting the stem, it is stored in new 

 earthenware, being excellent for many purposes. 

 With woman's milk it heals all eye-diseases — -white 

 ulcers, films, all wounds and inflammations, and 

 especially dimness of sight. It is also appUed to the 

 eyes on wool for fluxes. The same juice purges the 

 bowels if drunk in vinegar and water in doses not 



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