BOOK XXI. Lxxxvi. i4g-Lx.x.win. 152 



scorpions ; also with the addition of soda for suffoca- 

 tion of the womb, and in wine for griping of the 

 bowels. Its leaves are applied to scrofulous sores, 

 and with salt for afFections of the anus. The juice 

 of the boiled plant promotes menstruation, removes 

 inflammations and heals sores. It alleviates diseases 

 of the joints and the bites of dogs. It is beneficial 

 to sutferers from chronic dysentery and to coehac 

 patients, asthmatics, and patients with splenic 

 troubles or ulcers on the chest. It is thought excel- 

 lent trcatment to anoint weak eves with its juice 

 mixed with honey. 



LXXXVII. Melilot too is healing to the eyes o/meiUot. 

 when mixed with egg-yolk or linseed. With rose 

 oil it also reheves pain in the jaws or head, and with 

 raisin wine ear-ache and swellings or eruptions on 

 the hands ; boiled down in wine or pounded and raw 

 it is good for pains in the stomach. It has the same 

 action on the womb ; for the testes, however, pro- 

 lapsus of the anus and other complaints of those parts 

 it should be freshly gathered and boiled down in 

 water or in raisin wine. With the addition of rose 

 oil it makes an ointment for carcinoma. It is 

 thoroughly boiled down in sweet wine, and is par- 

 ticularly effective in the treatment of the tumours 

 called melicerides." 



LXXXVIII. I know it is bclieved that trefoil is an o/trefoU. 

 antidote for the bite of snakes and scorpions, twenty 

 grains of the seed being taken in a drink of wine or 

 of vinegar and w ater, or leaves with the whole plant 

 are boiled down to make a decoction ; that snakes 

 too are never seen in trefoil ; I know too that it is 

 reported by famous authorities that twenty-five 

 grains of the kind of trefoil I have called minyanthes ^* 



269 



