BOOK XXIII. Lxxx. 154-157 



rose oil. Those anointed vvith it aro shunned by all 

 venomous animals ; taken in drink also it is beneficial 

 for wounds inflicted by them, especially the juice 

 from the bay with very small leaves. The berries 

 vvith wine are a prophylactic ** against serpents, 

 scorpions and spiders ; with oil and vinegar they are 

 applied also to the spleen and hver, vvith honey to 

 gangrene. Further, when there is severe fatigue or 

 chill, anointing with the juice of this berry, to which 

 soda has been added, is beneficial. Some think that 

 deUvery ismuch hastened by taking in vvater an aceta- 

 buhim by measure of bay root, fresh root being more 

 etticacious than dried. Several authorities prescribe 

 that ten berries be given in drink for scorpion stings ; 

 to cure relaxed uvula that a quarter of a pound of 

 berries or leaves be boiled down to one-third in three 

 sextarii of water, the decoction to be used as a vvarm 

 gai-gle ; and that to take avvay headache an uneven 

 number of berries be pounded vvitli oil and vvarmed. 

 The pounded leaves of the Delphic bay, if smelt 

 occasionally, keep ofF infection of plague, and the 

 effect is greater if they are also burnt. Oil from the 

 Delphic bay is useful for making wax salves and 

 anodynes, for shaking off chills, for relaxing the sinews, 

 and for the treatment of pain in the side and of the 

 shivers of fever ; warmed in the rind of a porne- 

 granate it is also used for ear-ache. The leaves 

 boiled down in vvater to one-tliird, and used as a 

 gargle, brace the uvula ; taken ])y the mouth the 

 decoction relieves pains in the bowels and intestines ; 

 the most tender leaves, pounded and appHed in vvine 



riieans that venoinous creatures are kept otl, or that their 

 [)oisons are rendered liarmless, ia uncertain. The former 

 seems the more likely. 



