BOOK XX. xciii. 252-xcv. 254 



Menander husbands use the name as a term of abuse 

 for their wives. It is injurious to the stomach. It 

 so disturbs the bowels as to cause cliolera " in sonie 

 persons. It is said however to be good for scorpion 

 stings when drunk in wine, for corns on the feet 

 wlien applied in a Uniment, and also, with oil, for 

 diseases of the spleen and for pain in the temples. 

 Used as a food it is thought by Ilippocrates to check 

 menstruation. 



XCIV. Spignel is not grown in Italy except by spi(j„ei 

 medical men, and by very few of these. There are 

 two kinds of it. The more famous is called Atha- 

 manticum or Athamanicum, because, as some think, 

 it was discovered by Athamas, or according to others 

 because the most esteemed variety is found in 

 Athamania. Its leaves are like those of anise, the 

 stem being sometimes two feet high ; ^* it has many 

 roots, shmting, dark, and occasionally deep, tlie plant 

 being less red than the other kind. The root, 

 pounded or boiled and taken in water, is diuretic, 

 and wonderfully good for dispersing flatulence of the 

 stomach, and also for griping and troubles of the 

 bhvdder and of the womb. With honey it is appUed 

 to the joints, and an appHcation with celery to the 

 lower abdomen is diuretic for babies.'^ 



XCV^ Fennel has been made famous, as we have Fennfi. 

 said,<* by serpents, which taste it to cast off their old 

 skin and with its juice improve their eyesight. 

 Consequently it has been inferred that by fennel 

 juice especially can dimness of human vision also 

 be removed. This juice is collected when the stem 

 is swelUng to bud, dried in the sun and appUed in 

 lioney as an ointment. The most esteemed is 

 gathered in Spain from tlie tear-drops of the plant. 



149 



