BOOK XXIV. XXVIII. 42-xxix. 45 



also applied with pearl barley for headache. The 

 tender leaves are applied to inflamed eyes. The 

 Tnastic of the lentisk is applied for bending back the 

 eye-lashes, for filling out and smoothing the skin of 

 the face, being also useful for spitting of blood, 

 chronic cough, and in all cases where the medical 

 properties of gum acacia are called for. Abrasions are 

 treated by applying the oil made from the seed of 

 lentisk mixed with wax, or a decoction of the leaves 

 in oil ; or they may be fomented with these prepara- 

 tions and water. I know for a fact that when the 

 iUness of Considia, daughter of Marcus Servilius, a 

 consular, long " resisted all rigorous treatment, it was 

 cured by the physician Democrites, who used the 

 milk of goats which he fed on the lentisk. 



XXIX. The plane tree neutralizes the poison of the Tkepiane. 

 bat ; its seed-globules taken in wine in a dose of four 

 denarii act similarly on all poisons of serpents and scor- 

 pions, besides healing burns. Pounded moreover with 

 strong vinegar, especially squill-seasoned vinegar, it 

 checks all bleeding, and with the addition of honey 

 removes freckles, cancerous sores and chronic pustules 

 on the neck. The leaves moreover and bai-k make 

 ointment for gatherings and suppurations, and so does 

 a decoction of them ; a decoction of the bark in 

 vinegar is a remedy for sore teeth, but for the eyes a 

 decoction of the most tender leaves in white wine 

 must be made. The down of the flowers is harmful 

 both to the ears and to the eyes. The ashes of the 

 burnt globules heal burns and frost-bites. The bark 

 in wine allays the stings of scorpions. 



" Littre takes diu with usum. Query : " who refused 

 rigorous treatment." 



37 



