BOOK XX. XXVI. 62-65 



exceeding two oboli. Drunk in wine it heals snake- 

 bites, as do its leaves and stalks when pounded and 

 drunk in vinegar. They are applied as ointment to a 

 wound, especially for the stings of scorpions ; forthose, 

 however, of venomous spiders wine and vinegar are 

 added. They also neutraHse other poisons, except 

 those which kill by suifocation, or those which hurt 

 the bladder, white lead also being an exception. They 

 are appUed to the belly with honey and vinegar to 

 clear away troubles of the bowels. The juice cor- 

 rects difficulty in making water. Crateuas prescribes 

 it also for dropsy in doses of two oboli with vinegar 

 and a cyathus of wine. Some collect the juice of the 

 cultivated lettuce also, but it is less efficacious. 

 The special properties of lettuces, besides those 

 ah-eady mentioned " of causing sleep, checking 

 sexual desii-e, cooUng a heated body, cleansing the 

 stomach and making blood, are not few ; it breaks up 

 flatulence, calms belching,'' aids digestion without 

 ever itself causing indigestion. No other article of 

 diet has a greater power of both increasing appetite 

 and also of diminishing it. In either case moderation 

 of the amount taken is the reason ; thus an immoderate 

 amount loosens the bowels, while a moderate amount 

 binds them. Lettuces loosen thick phlegm, and, as 

 some have put on record, clear the senses, being very 

 useful to stomachs which are out of order. They 

 are aided for these purposes by oboU of digestive, 

 the mixer modifying the sharpness by the addition 

 of a sweet wine until it is no greater than that of 

 vinegar sauce, mixing with it, if the phlegm be 

 thick, squiU or wox*mwood wine ; if a cough also be 

 experienced, hyssop wine. Lettuces are given with 

 wild endive for coeUac affections and for hardness 



39 



VOL. VI. ^ 



