BOOK XX. XXVI. 65-68 



in the abdomen." White lettuce in great quantity 

 is given to melancholic ^" patients and for bladder 

 troubles. Praxagoi'as gave it also to patients with 

 dysentery. It is good for fresh burns, if applied with 

 salt before the blisters form. They check spreading 

 ulcers, if appHed at first with saltpetre, afterwards 

 in wine. Pounded they are appHed in cases of 

 erysipelas. The pounded stalks, added to pearl-barley 

 and appHed with cold water, soothe cramps and 

 sprains, and eruptions of pimples when appHed with 

 wine and pearl-barley. In cholera " also they have 

 been given cooked in a pan, for which purpose the 

 most beneficial are the bitter ones with the largest 

 stems. Some people too inject the lettuce niilk.'^ 

 Their stalks thoroughly boiled are said to be very 

 beneficial to the stomach ; Hkewise for sleep the 

 summer lettuce especiaHy, and the milky, bitter 

 kind, which we have called meconis.'^ This milk 

 added to woman's milk is prescribed also as very 

 useful for clearness of vision if the eyes and the head 

 are bathed in good time, and Hkewise for eye troubles 

 caused by chill. I find much other extravagant 

 praise of lettuce : that with Attic honey it is as good 

 as southernwood-^ for chest complaints ; that men- 

 struation is regulated by its use as food ; that the 

 seed of cultivated lettuce is given for scorpion stings ; 

 that the crushed seed taken in wine prevents Hbidi- 

 nous dreams ; that noxious waters do not harm 

 those who eat lettuce. Some however have main- 

 tained that when eaten too often they impair the 

 eye-sight. 



' See XIX. § 126. 

 / See XXI. § 60. 

 » See XXXI. § 15. 



41 



