BOOK XXII. XXX. 63-65 



with water — strange places for a plant that is un- 

 affected by water ! " It is remarkably good for 

 expelling stones from the bladder, breaking them 

 up, the dark kind does so at any rate. This, I am 

 inclined to believe, is the i*eason why it is called 

 saxifrage ^ (stone-breaker) rather than because it 

 grows on stones. It is taken in wine, the dose being 

 what can be phicked with three fingers. Diuretic, 

 the maidenhairs <^ counteract the venom of snakes 

 and spiders ; a decoction in wine checks looseness of 

 the bowels ; a chaplet made out of them reUeves 

 headache. An appHcation of them is good for 

 scolopendra stings, though it must be taken off 

 repeatedly for fear of burns. The same treatment 

 appHes to fox-mange also. They disperse scrofulous 

 sores, scurf on the face and running sores on the 

 head. A decoction of them is benefioial for asthma, 

 liver, spleen, violent biliousness and dropsy. With 

 vvoiniiwood an appHcation of them is used in strangury 

 and to help the kidneys. They promote the after- 

 birth and menstruation. Taken in vinegar or black- 

 berry juice they check haemorrhage. Sore places 

 too on babies are treated by an ointment of maiden- 

 hair with rose oil, wine being appHed first.'' The 

 leaves steeped in the urine of a boy ^ not yet ado- 

 lescent. if they be pounded with saltpetre and 

 apph'ed to the abdomen of women, prevent the 

 formation of wrinkles. It is thought that partridges 

 and cockerels become better fighters if maidenhair 

 be added to their food, and it is very good for cattle. 



The slimy jiiice of the leaves added to the urine . . . and 

 beaten up with saltpetre." But rinis tritiim is strange. 

 * Peihaps child of either sex is meant. 



339 



