BOOK XXIII. Lx.Mii. i^i-Lxxv. 144 



Likewise sorb apples when dried ; but when fresh they 

 are beneficial to the stomach and to disordered bowels. 



LXXIV. Pine cones, containinf^ resin, if lightly Pinecones. 

 crushed and boiled down to one half with a sextarius 

 of water to each nut, cure spitting of blood when the 

 decoction is taken " in doses of two cyathi. A 

 decoction of the bark of the pine in wine is prescribed 

 for colic. The kernels of the pine nut allay thirst, 

 heart-burn,'' gnawings of the stomach and the 

 peccant humoui-s that settle there ; they tone up the 

 system, and are beneficial for the kidneys and 

 bladder. They seem to relieve roughness *" of the 

 throat or of a cough, and drive out bile when taken in 

 water, wine, raisin wine or a decoction of dates.'* For 

 severe gnawing pains of the stomach they are 

 combined with cucumber seed and juice of purslane, 

 and also for ulcerations of the bladder and affections 

 of the kidneys, since they are also diuretic. 



LXXV. A decoction of roots of the bitter almond f/,'|^j^ 

 clears the complexion of spots and makes it of a more 

 cheerful colour. Ahnonds tliemselves induce sleep 

 and increase the appetite ; they are diuretic and act 

 as an emmenagogue. They are appHed for headache, 

 especially in fever ; if the headache arises from wine, 

 the application is with vinegar, rose oil and a sexta- 

 rius of water. With starch and mint they arrest haem- 

 orrhage, and to anoint the head with the mixture is 

 good for lethargus and epilepsy ; mixed with old wine 

 they heal epinyctis and purulent sores, with honey 

 dog bites and, after preliminary fomentation, scaly 



" Such seems to be the meaning of exasperare, as also in 

 §§ 80, 97, although the usual meaning of this verb is the 

 e.xact opposite. 



'^ Or, ben-nuts. 



5" 



