BOOK XXII. Lxx. 145-LXX11. 148 



grows wild in stagnant water. These lentils are of a 

 cooling nature, and so are applied to abscesses and 

 in particular to gouty feet, both by themselves and 

 with pearl barley. They also close up prolapse of 

 the intestines. 



LXXI. There is a wild lentil called eleHsphacos by 

 the Greeks [sphacos by others]," smoother *" than the 

 cultivated lentil, with a smaller, drier and more scented 

 leaf. There is also another kind of it wilder still, 

 and with a heavy smell. The other, the more culti- 

 vated variety, has leaves hke those of a quince, but 

 smaller and pale, which are boiled with the branches. 

 It promotes menstruation and urine, and heals the 

 wounds of the sting-ray, numbing the region afFected.<^ 

 It is also taken in drink with wormwood for dysen- 

 tery. With wine it also brings on delayed men- 

 struation, while a draught of its decoction checks 

 any excess. The plant appUed by itself stanches 

 the blood of wounds. It also cures <^ snake bite, and 

 if boiled down in wine allays pruritus of the testieles. 

 Our modern herbahsts call this plant eleUsphacus in 

 Greek and salvia in Latin, a plant Hke mint, hoary 

 and aromatic. An appHcation brings away the dead 

 unborn baby, as well as worms in sores and ears. 



LXXII. There is also a wild chickpea, with leaves wnd 

 Uke the cultivated kind and a heavy smeU. Too <=^^'^^^p^<^ 

 copious a dose relaxes the bowels, and causes flatu- 

 lence and coUc. Roasted it is supposed to be moi'e 

 healthy. The small chickpea is even more bene- 

 ficial to the bowels. The meal of each kind heals 

 running sores on the head, though the wild is more 



* Some translate " lighter," but cf. Theophrastus. 

 " " The sting-ray spreads numbness over the place stung " 

 is a possible rendering of lorporem . . . loco. 

 "* Or, "cleanses." 



399 



