BOOK XXII. XXXII. 69-72 



gathered, when their power is at its best. The 

 juice also extracted from crushed or boiled bulbs 

 is, mixed with honey, good for an aching body ; 

 and the same, with dried iris and a Uttle salt, helps 

 those who are nicely particular about the odour 

 of their persons. The leaves, boiled down in wine, 

 cure both the complaints mentioned above and 

 also scrofulous swelUngs, superficial abscesses and 

 sores on the face. The ashes of the root are a remedy 

 for fox-mange and for cracks on the feet or seat, 

 and the juice of the root boiled in oil for chilblains 

 and burns. This is poured into the ears for deaf- 

 ness, and for toothache into the ear opposite to 

 the pain. A moderate dose, one drachma, of the 

 root, taken in wine, is diuretic and an emmena- 

 gogue, besides being good for pain in the side, 

 ruptures, convulsions and coughs. Chewing the 

 root acts as an emetic ; the seed if taken internally 

 disturbs the bowels. Chrysermus treated parotid 

 abscesses also by a decoction of the root in wine, and 

 scrofulous swelHngs by the decoction added to 

 cachry " in wine. Some say that if, after applying 

 the root, a part of it be hung in the smoke and not 

 taken down before the fourth day, as the root dries 

 up the sci'ofu]ous swelling subsides. Diocles used 

 the root for gouty conditions in either way, boiled or 

 raw, and for chilblains a decoction in oil. He 

 prescribed it in wine for violent biUousness and for 

 dropsy. It has also been held that it is aphrodisiac 

 if, with wine and honey, it is used as an ointment or 

 taken as a medicine. Xenocrates also says that a 

 decoction of the root in vinegar removes lichen, itch- 

 scal) and leprous sores, further that dried and mixed 

 with henbane and melted pitch it does the same for 



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