BOOK XXI. xcviii. 171-CI. 174 



XCVIII. The seed of lychnis too, that flame- ofiychnu. 

 coloured flower, is crushed and taken in wine for 

 snake bites and for the stings of scorpions, hornets 

 and the like. The wild variety of this plant is in- 

 jurious to the stomach. It loosens the bowels, 

 in doses of two drachmae, bringing away bile most 

 effectively, and is so hurtful to scorpions that the 

 mere sight of it sends them into complete stupor. 

 Its root is called bolites by the people of Asia ; tied 

 ovcr the eye " it is said to remove white film * on 

 the pupil. 



XCIX. The vicapervica, otherwise chamaedaphne, ofpen- 

 (iricd and crushed is given in water for dropsy in 

 (loses of a small spoonful, under which treatment the 

 patient very quickly loses the water. A decoction 

 of it in ash and sprinkled with wine dries tumours. 

 Its juice cures complaints of the ears. An applica- 

 tion to the belly is said to be very beneficial indeed 

 for diarrhoea. 



C. A decoction of the root of butcher's broom is Ofbutcher's 

 given every other day for stone in the bladder, 

 for painful urination, or for blood in the urine. 

 The root ought to be dug up on one day and the 

 dccoction made on the morning of the next, a 

 sextarius of it being mixed with two cyathi of 

 vvine. There are some also who take in water 

 the pounded root raw, and it is considered that 

 nothing is more wholly beneficial to the male 

 genitals than its small stalks pounded and used in 

 vinegar. 



Ci. Batis (sea-fennel) too relaxes the bowels. Baiis, 

 Crushed up it is used raw as a liniment for gout. 

 The Egyptians sow acinos both for chaplets and for 

 food ; it would be just the same as ocimum were it 



283 



