BOOK XXI. ci. 174-CIV. 176 



not for its rougher branches and leaves, and for its 

 very strong smell. It is both an emmenagogue and 

 diuretic. 



CII. Colocasia, according to Glaucias, mellows the 

 acrid humours of the body, and is beneficial to the 

 stomach. 



CIII. Anthalium is a food of the Egyptians, but AnhaHum. 

 I have been able to find no other use of it. There is 

 however a plant called anthyUium by some and by 

 others anthyUum, of which there are two kinds. 

 One in leaves and branches is hke the lentil, a palra 

 in height, growing on sandy soils with plenty of sun, 

 and slightly salt to the taste. The other kind is Hke 

 the chamaepitys, but smaller and rougher, with a 

 purple flower and a strong smell, and growing in 

 rocky places. The former kind is very useful for 

 uterine affections and for wounds, being appHed with 

 rose oil and milk. It is taken in drink for strangury 

 and gravel of the kidneys in doses of three drachmae. 

 The other kind is taken by the mouth with honey 

 and vinegar in doses of four drachmae for indura- 

 tions of the womb, gripings of the bowels, and 

 epilepsy. 



CIV. Parthenium is calied leucanthes by some PartkmUm. 

 and amaracum by others. Celsus," among the Latin 

 writers calls it perdicium and muraUs. It grows in 

 the hedges of gardens, and has a white flower, the 

 smeU of an apple *" and a bitter taste. A decoction 

 of this plant is used to make a sitz-bath for indura- 

 tion and inflammation of the womb,<^ and the dried 

 plant is appUed with honey and vinegar to bring 

 away black bile. For this reason it is good for dizzi- 

 ness and stone in the bladder. It is used as an 

 appUcation for erysipelas, and also with old axle- 



285 



