violetx. 



BOOK XXI. Lxxv. 129-LXXVI1. 132 



flower is made narcissus oil, which is very useful for 

 suftening callosities, for warming parts of the body 

 that have been chilled, and for the ears, but it also 

 produces headache. 



LXXVI. There are both wild and cultivated Ando] 

 violets. The mauve ones are cooHng and are applied 

 to the stomach " for inflammations, to the forehead 

 also when the head burns, to the eyes especially for 

 fluxes, for prolapsus of the anus and of the womb, 

 and to abscesses. Placed on the head in chaplets, or 

 even smelt, they disperse the after-effects of drinking 

 and its headaches, as well as quinsies when taken in 

 water. The mauve variety, taken in water, is a cure 

 for epilepsy, especially in children. The seed of the 

 violet neutraUzes the stings of scorpions. On the 

 other hand the flower of the white violet opens 

 abscesses, and even disperses them. Both the 

 white violet, however, and the yellow reduce the 

 menstrual discharge and are diuretic. Freshly 

 gathered they have less potency, for which reason 

 they should be dried and not used until they are at 

 least a year old. Half a cyathus of the yellow violet 

 taken in three of water promotes menstruation. Its 

 roots used with vinegar as a Uniment soothe the 

 spleen, and likewise gout, but for inflammations of 

 the eyes myrrh and saffron should be added to them. 

 The leaves ^ with honey cleanse sores on the head. 

 With wax ointment they heal cracks in the anus 

 and such as are in moist parts of the body. Used 

 with vinegar, however, they heal abscesses. 



LXXVH. The baccar used in medicine is called 

 " perpressa " by some Roman authorities. It re- 

 lieves serpent bites, aching and feverish heads, and 

 likewise fluxes from the eyes. It is applied to breasts 



257 



