BOOK XXIII. xLi. 84-xLiv. 87 



made from the fibres " give a brilliantly clear flame, 

 but the oil burns with a dull light because it is much 

 too thick. The leaves in vinegar are applied locally 

 for erysipelas, but fresh leaves by themselves for 

 diseases of the breasts and for eye-fluxes ; a decoc- 

 tion of them in wine, with pearl barley and saftVon, 

 is used for inflammations, and applied by themselves 

 for three days they clear the complexion. 



XLII. Almond oil cleanses, makes the body supple, Mmond oi 

 smoothes the skin, improves the complexion, and with 

 honey removes spots on the face. A decoction also 

 with rose oil or honey and pomegranate rind is good 

 for the ears, kills the little worms in them, and clears 

 away hardness of heai-ing, vague noises and singing, 

 incidentally reUeving headache and pains in the eyes. 

 Combined with wax it cures boils and sunburn. 

 W ith wine it cleans away running sores and scaly 

 eruptions ; with mehlot, condylomata. Applied to 

 the head moreover by itself it induces sleep. 



XLIII. Laurel oil is the more useful the fresher i.aitreioii. 

 and greener it is. Its quaUty is heating, and there- 

 fore it is appUed, warmed in pomegranate rind, for 

 paralysis, convulsions, sciatica, bruises, headache, 

 chronic catarrh and troubles of the ear. 



XLIV. Similar also is the method ^ of using 

 myrtle oil. It is astringent and hardens. With 

 copper '^ scales and wax it cures sore gums, toothache, 

 dysentery, ulcerations of the uterus, bladder troubles, 

 chronic or running sores, and also eruptions and 



* Cf. XV. § 27 eadem ratio et in satlva myrto. Here ratio 

 means " method of preparing," as the medicinal nses are not 

 given in Book XV. But in Book XXITI., wheie the subject is 

 use in medicine, ratio means " method of using." 



' Squama aeris : the black oxide of copper. 



