BOOK XXI. Lxxxii. 139-LXXX111. 142 



LXXXII. The lees too of the safFron exti'acted 

 from satfron juice,'' which is called crocomagma, 

 have their own uses for cataract and strangury. It 

 is niore warming tlian saffron itself. The best kind 

 is tliat which, when put in the mouth, stains with 

 the truest salfron colour the saliva and the teeth. 



LXXXIII. The red iris is better than the white Hedicai usf^ 

 one. It conduces to the health of babies to have "j '^^'™- 

 this tied on them, especially when they are teething 

 or suilering from cough, and to inject it into those 

 troubled with tape-worms. Its other properties are 

 not much dilferent from those of honey. It cleanses 

 sores on the liead, especially abscesses of long 

 standing. Taken in doses of two drachmae with 

 honey it relaxes the bowels ; taken in drink it 

 relieves cough, griping and flatulence, in vinegar, 

 complaints of the spleen. In vinegar and water it 

 is an antidote against the bites of snakes and of 

 spiders ; against stings of scorpions two di-achmae 

 by weight are taken in bread or water ; for dog-bites 

 and abrasions it is applied in oiL So prepared it is 

 also applied to aching sinews, but for lumbago and 

 sciatica resin is added. Its nature is warming. 

 Snuffed up through the nostrils it promotes sneezing 

 and clears the head. For headache it is appUed 

 with quinces or with sparrow-qmnces. It dispels also 

 thc after-effects of wine and orthopnoea. Taken in 

 doses of two oboli it acts as an emetic. Applied with 

 honey it draws out spUnters of broken bone. For 

 whitlows its meal is used, wine being added for corns 

 and warts, the pUister not being removed for three 



the gender of crocowa^ma. Tlie Bohn version m.a,\ies. unguento 

 crocino dative and qvod as rehitive to crocomagmn, and it niust 

 be confessed that the Latin may be thus construed. 



26? 



