BOOK XXIII. xLiv. 87-xLvi. 90 



burns. It heals abrasions, scaly eruptions, chaps, 

 condylomata, and relaxed " joints, renioving also 

 ofFensive odours of the body. It is an antidote to 

 cantharides, the buprestis, and noxious poisons too 

 that injure by causing sores. 



XLV. Oil of dwarf myrtle or prickly myrtle ** has ou of 

 the same quaUties. Oil of cypress has the same „iyrtie; 

 effects as oil of myrtle and as oil of citrus. Oil of 

 wahiuts, which we have called '^ caryinum, is useful 

 for mange, and is injected into the ears for hardness 

 of hearing, and an appUcation reUeves headache ; for 

 the rest, it is sluggish and of a disagreeable taste ; 

 indeed, if there should be any rottenness in a kernel 

 a whole peck is spoilt. The oil made from mezerium 

 seed has the same property as castor oil. Oil of nias- 

 tich is a very useful ingredient of acopum,** and would 

 be as profitable as rose oil were it not generally 

 thought *■ to be rather too hard.'^ They use it also for 

 profuse sweating and for the pimples caused by 

 sweats. It is a very efiicient cure for the itch in beasts 

 of burden. Oil of ben nut clears away spots, boils and 

 freckles, and heals the gums. 



XLVI. I have ah-eady described the nature of 

 the cyprus and the method of extracting oil from it. (b)cijprus; 

 Its properties are heating, and it softens the sinews. 

 The leaves make an appUcation for the stomach and 

 for an'irritated uterus''; their juice too is made into 



•* Greek dKOTTov (fatigue-removing), an ointment. 



' Cf. XXIII. § 69 olearitm proxima aiictoritas intellegitur. 



' The Bohn editors say " styptie " — an excellent senso if 

 durus can he active. As it is applied to vinegar and wine, it 

 probably means " acrid," though " thick " is possible. 



» See'XII. § 109. 



* Some wouid omit the comma at concitatae or place it after 

 inlinuntur, translating : " for the stomach, and make the 

 iuice into a pessary for an irritated uterus." 



473 



