BOOK XXI. Lxxxix. 155-XCI. 159 



be added to a sextarius of vinegar and honey, and 

 the same for pain in the side, or betvveen the shoulder- 

 blades, or in the chest. They cure troubles of the 

 hypochondria, taken in vinegar and honey, which 

 draught is also given in cases of aberration of niind 

 or of melancholy." Thyme is also administered to 

 epileptics, who when attacked by a fit are revived 

 by its smell. It is said too that epileptics should 

 sleep on soft thyme. It is good also for asthma, 

 difficult breathing, and delayed menstruation ; or if 

 the embryo in the womb be dead. thjmie boiled 

 down in water to one third proves useful, as thyme 

 moreover does to men also, if taken with honey and 

 vinegar, for flatulence, for sweUings of the belly or 

 testes, or for maddening pain in the bladder. An 

 appHcation in wine removes tumoiu's and inflam- 

 mations,* and in vinegar callosities and warts. It is 

 applied with wine for sciatica ; pounded and sprinkled 

 in oil on wool it is used for affections of the joints and 

 for sprains, with lard it is applied to burns. It is 

 also administered as a draught in the early stages 

 of affections of the joints, three oboh of thyme in 

 three cyathi of vinegar and honey ; pounded, with 

 the addition of salt, it is used for loss of appetite. 



XC. Hemerocalles has a soft leaf of a pale green, 0'her pinnt. 

 and a scented bulbous root, which apphed with honey 

 to the bellv drives out watcry humoin-s and also harm- 

 ful ' blood. The leaves are apphed for fluxes of the 

 eyes and for pains in the breasts after childbirth. 



XCI. Helenium, which had its origin, as I have 

 said,'' in the tears of Helen, is believed to preserve 

 physical charm, and to keep unimpaired the fresh 

 complexion of our women, whether of the face or of 

 the rest of the body. Moreover, it is supposed that 



273 



