BOOK XXII. Lvii. 119-121 



as well. In the first place it is a well known fact that 

 those animals that feed on grain are the most intelli- 

 gent. Grains of common wheat well roasted and then 

 crushed, applied in Aminean wine to the eyes soothe 

 fluxes ; moreover, well roasted on an iron plate 

 grains of naked wheat are a quick remedy for frost- 

 bite. The flour of naked wheat boiled in vinegar is 

 good for cramp ; the bran moreover and rose oil, 

 dried figs and sebesten plums, all boiled down, make 

 a good gargle for tonsils and throat. Sextus Pom- 

 ponius, father of a man who was praetor, himself the 

 most distinguished man " in Nearer Spain, was 

 superintending the winnowing in his barns when he 

 was seized with the pains of gout. Burying himself 

 above his knees into the wheat he was relieved of the 

 pain, and the water in his feet dried up in a wonderful 

 way, so that afterwards he adopted this procedure as 

 a remedy. The absorbent power of wheat is so great 

 that it dries up casks full of liquid.'' Experienced 

 authorities also prescribe the chafFof wheat or barley 

 to be applied warm for hernia,'' and the water in 

 which it has been boiled to be used for fomenta- 

 tions. There is to be found in emmer-wheat a Httle 

 worm like the wood-worm. If this be plugged with 

 wax into the hollow of a decayed tooth, it is said that 

 the tooth comes out, or even if the affected part be 

 rubbed with it. Olyra (two-grained wheat) is, as I 

 liave said,** also called arinca. With a decoction of 

 it a medicine is made which the Egyptians call 

 athera, very beneficial for babies, though adults too 

 use it as a Hniment. 



^- Pliny often uses incommoda for ailments ; e.g., incommoda 

 corporum, pvlmonitm, vesicae. 

 " See XVIII. § 92. 



