BOOK XX. Lxvi. 174-LXIX. 177 



LXVI. Piperitis, which I have also ealled sili- 

 quastrum," is taken in drink for epilepsy. Castor* 

 gave a further description of it : " " a red, long stem, 

 with its knots close together ; leaves Uke those of 

 the bay ; a white, small seed, with a taste like 

 pepper ; good for the gums, teeth, sweetness of 

 breath and for belching." « 



LXVII. Origanum, which rivals cunila in its wud 

 flavour, as I have said,*^ has many varieties useful in """'>'■'""■ 

 medicine. One is onitis, called by some prasion,« 

 and not unlike hyssop. Its special use is to be taken 

 in warm water for gnawings of the stomach and 

 indigestion, and in white wine for the stings of spiders 

 and scorpions, while it is appUed on wool with vinegar 

 and oil for sprains and bruises. 



LXVIII. Goat origanum is more like wild thyme. 

 Diuretic, it disperses tumours ; if taken in drink 

 it is most efficacious for poisoning by mistletoe or 

 by viper bites, for acid belchings from the stomach 

 and for the hypochondria./ With honey it is also 

 given for coughs, pleurisy and pneumonia. 



LXIX. HeracUum too has three varieties. The Heraeiium. 

 darker one with the broader leaf is glutinous ; the 

 second variety, with a more slender leaf, is more 

 tender and not unUke sampsuchum, which some 

 prefer to caU prasion. There is a third kind, inter- 

 mediate between the other two, but less efficacious 

 than either. The best kind, however, is the Cretan, 

 which also has a pleasant smeU, the next best that 

 of Smyrna, having less smeU, and the Heracleotic, 



' " Leek green." 



f Praecordia generaUy means the hypochondria. Some- 

 times it means the lower chest under the heart (hence the 

 name) or the region over the diaphragm. See p. 16. 



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VOL. VI E 



