BOOK XXIV. Liv. 91-LV1. 94 



" the tanner's ", of a reddish colour, a cubit high, and 

 of the thickness of a finger, the leaves of which when 

 dried are used as is pomegranate rind in the tanning 

 of leather. Physicians moreover use the leaves of 

 rhus for bruises, hkewise for coeliac trouble, sores in 

 the seat and for what they call eating (phagedaenic) 

 ulcers. Pounded with honey and appHed with vine- 

 gar . . .'' a decoction of them is dropped into sup- 

 purating ears. A decoction of the branches makes a 

 mouth-wash, which is used for the same purposes as 

 that made from mulberries, but it is more efficacious 

 when mixed with alum. This is also apphed to drop- 

 sical swellings. 



LV. What is called rhus erythros (red sumach) is Rhuseryih 

 the seed of this shrub. It has astringent and cooUng '^"'^" 

 properties. It is sprinkled on viands instead of salt 

 when the bowels have been relaxed, and with 

 silphium added makes all meat sweeter. With honey 

 it cures running sores, roughness of the tongue, and 

 Hvid or excoi'iated bruises ; applied in the same way 

 it very quickly causes wounds on the head to cicat- 

 rize.'' Taken as food it checks excessive menstru- 

 ation. 



LVI. A different plant is erythrodanum, called by Ert/thro- 

 some ereuthodanum, and rubia by the Romans, which 

 is used to dye wool and to tan leather. As a medicine 

 it is diuretic, and taken in hydromel cures jaundice 

 (lichen too if applied with vinegar), sciatica and 

 paralysis if the patient bathes daily while taking the 

 draught.'^ The root and the seed are emmenagogues, 

 check diarrhoea and disperse gatherings. The 



" The qualifying clause may be taken with paralyticos only 

 or with it and ischiadicos. From et to inliia is a parenthesis, 

 and is marked as such by Mayhoflf. 



69 



