BOOK XXIII. Liv. loi-Lv. 104 



lost through niange. Raw quinces preserved in honey 

 move the bowels. They add much to the pleasant 

 taste <* of honev, and make it more beneficial to the 

 stomach. Boiled quinces preserved in honey and beat- 

 en up with a decoction of rose leaves are given by some 

 as food for the treatment of affections of the stomach. 

 The juice of raw quinces is good for the spleen, 

 difficulty of breathing, and dropsy, as well as for the 

 breasts, condylomata and varicose veins, and the 

 Howers, both fresh and dried, for infiammations of 

 the eyes, spitting of blood, and to regulate menstru- 

 ation. A soothing juice is also derived from quinces 

 by pounding them with sweet wine, which is good 

 for coeUac affections and the liver. A decoction of 

 them is also used to foment prolapsus of the uterus 

 and of the intestines. An oil also is extracted from 

 them, which I have called meUnum,'' provided that <^ 

 the fruit is not grown on wet soil. Hence the most 

 useful are the quinces imported from Sicily ; while 

 the sparrow quince, although nearly related, is not 

 so good. The root of the quince tree, after a ring 

 has been drawn round it, is pulled up with the left 

 hand, the person doing so being careful to state why 

 he is pulling it, and for whom. An amulet from 

 such a root cures scrofulous sores. 



LV. Honey apples "^ and the other sweet kinds fi^> o">^ 

 relax the stomach and bowels, cause thirst and heat, 

 but do no injury to the sinews. Round ^ apples 

 arrest looseness of the bowels and vomitings, and act 

 as a diuretic. Wild apples are Uke sour spring 

 apples and arrest looseness of the bowels ; indeed for 

 this purpose they must be used while unripe. 



<* For melimela see XV. §§ 51, 59. 

 • For orhiculata see XV. § 51. 



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