BOOK XXI. Lxxix. 135-LXXX1. 138 



of the colon in either water or wine, for troubles of 

 the Hver and kidneys, excessive bile, and dropsy, 

 either by itself or with wormwood. It checks 

 excessive attacks of menstruation. 



LXXX. The root of the plant that in the same 

 place I have called phu is given, either in drink 

 pounded, or else boiled, for suffocation of the womb, 

 and for pains also of the chest or side. It is an em- 

 menogogue and is taken with wine. 



LXXXI. Saffron does not blend well with honey 

 or with anything sweet, but it does so very easily 

 with wine or water. It is very useful in medicine, 

 and is kept in a horn box. It disperses all inflam- 

 mations, but especially those of the eyes, taken 

 internally " with egg ; suffocation of the womb as 

 well, and ulcerations of the throat,'' chest, kidneys, 

 Hver, lungs and bladder, being very useful indeed for 

 inflammation in particular of these organs,'^ as also 

 for cough and for pleurisy. It removes itching also, 

 and promotes urination. Those who take saffron 

 first will not feel after-effects of wine and will become 

 intoxicated with difficulty. Chaplets too made of 

 it alleviate intoxication. It induces sleep, has a 

 gentle action on the head,** and is an aphrodisiac. 

 Its blossom, with Cimolian chalk, is used as an appH- 

 cation for erysipelas. The plant itself is used as 

 an ingredient in numerous medicines, and there is 

 one eye-salve to which it has actuaUy given its name. 



* Possibly " stomach." Stomachus included all the ali- 

 mentary canal, and it is sometimes difficult to decide which 

 part of it is referred to. 



•^ Earum agrees grammatically with the last item in the 

 series, vesicarum, but in sense includes all the preceding items. 



** Apparently much the same as purgat, "clears the head." 



261 



