BOOK XXII. XV. 31-35 



the anus of babies, besides waking up iethargus" 

 patients if it touches their legs or better still their 

 forehead. The same plant with the addition of salt 

 heals dog bites ; pounded and inserted it arrests 

 nose bleeding, the root proving even better. Mixed 

 with salt it heals carcinoma and foul ulcers, Ukewlse 

 sprains, superficial abscesses, parotid abscesses and 

 falling avvay of flesh from the bones. The seed taken 

 with boiled must reUeves sufFocation of the uterus, 

 and an appHcation checks bleeding ^ at the nose. 

 Taken in hydromel after dinner in a dose of two oboh 

 it makes vomiting easy, while one obolus in wine 

 refreshes after fatigue. Uterine affections are 

 reUeved by an acetabuhmi of the roasted seed, and 

 flatulence by taking it in boiled must. With honey 

 it reUeves asthma, clears the chest by the same made 

 into an electuary, and with Unseed cures pain in the 

 side. Hyssop may be added and a Uttle pepper. It 

 is used as an appUcation for the spleen ; roasted and 

 taken as food it loosens constipated bowels. Hippo- 

 crates declares that taken in drink it purges the 

 uterus, that an acetabulum of it roasted and taken 

 in sweet wine and '^ appUed with maUow juice reUeves 

 uterine pains, that intestinal worms are expeUed if 

 it be taken with hydromel and salt, and that a Uni- 

 ment made from its seed replaces disfiguring loss of 

 hair. For affections of the joints and for gout most 

 prescribe appUcation of it with old oil or of the 

 pounded leaves with bears' grease. The crushed 

 root with vinegar is no less useful for the same 

 purposes, and also for the spleen, and boiled in wine 

 and mixed with old and salted axle-grease it dis- 

 perses superficial abscesses. The same root dried 

 is a depilatory. Phanias the naturaUst has sung its 



