BOOK XX. XLVIII. T2 2-XLI.X. 126 



applied thus to be good for both jaundice and dropsy, 

 and to check even the diarrhoea of cholera. Philistion 

 therefore prescribed ocirnum even for coeliac com- 

 plaints and when boiled for dysenteiy ; some against 

 the advice of Plistonicus prescribe it in wine for 

 tenesmus, spitting of biood and hardness of the 

 hypochondria. Applied to the breasts it checks " 

 the flow of milk. It is very beneficial, especially 

 with goose grease, for the ears of babies. Tlie 

 pounded seed snufFed up the nostrils promotes ^ 

 sneezing, and used as a liniment the flow of mucus 

 from the head ; taken as food in vinegar it purges 

 the womb. Mixed with cobbler's blacking it 

 removes warts. Being aphrodisiac it is also ad- 

 ministered to horses and asses at the time of service. 



For all these purposes wikl ocimuni is of greater 

 efficacy, particularly for the troubles caused i)y 

 frequent vomitings and for abscesses of the womb, 

 the root taken in wine being very efficacious for the 

 bites of wikl beasts. 



XLIX. Rocket seed cures the poisons of scorpions nockei. 

 and of the shrew-mouse ; it keeps off all the Httle 

 parasites breeding on the body, and removes spots 

 on the skin of the face when applied with honey, 

 freckles when applied with vinegar, reducing livid 

 scars to whiteness when mixed with ox-gall. Taken 

 in wine it is said to harden as it were the feeling of 

 those about to be flogged. As a seasoning for dishes 

 it imparts such a pleasant flavour that the Greeks 

 have called it euzomon (good broth). It is thought 

 that if the eyes are fomented with sHghtly pounded 

 rocket, clearness of vision is restored . . . the 



" Exinnnil woiikl mean " drains," i.e. " promotes." 

 ' Co7npescit woukl mean " cliecks." 



73 



