BOOK XXIV. Lxxvi. 124-LXXV11. 126 



LXXVI. Among the difFerent kinds of brambles is 

 one called rhamnos by the Greeks, paler, more bushy, 

 throwingout branches withstraight thorns,not hooked 

 Uke those of other brambles, and with larger leaves. 

 The other kind of it is wild, darker and inclining to 

 red, bearing a sort of pod. A decoction of the root 

 of this in water makes a drug called lycium. Lycium, eic. 

 The seed of it brings away the after-birth. The other, 

 the paler kind, is more astringent, cooHng, and more 

 suitable for the treatment of gathei-ings and wounds. 

 The leaves of either kind, raw or boiled, are made up 

 into an ointment with oil. 



LXXVII. A superior lycium is said to be made from 

 the thorn which is also called chironian "■ boxthorn, 

 the characteristics of which I have described ^* among 

 Indian trees, for Indian lycium is considered by far 

 the best. The pounded branches and roots, which 

 are of extreme bitterness, are boiled in water in a 

 copper vessel for three days ; the woody pieces are 

 then taken away and the rest boiled again until it is of 

 the consistency of honey. It is adulterated with bitter 

 juices, even with lees of olive oil and with ox gall. 

 The froth, which may be called the flower of the 

 decoction, is an ingredient of remedies for the eyes. 

 The rest of the juice is used for clearing spots from 

 the face and for the cure of itch, chronic fluxes 

 of the eyes and corroding sores in their corners, pus 

 in the ears, sore tonsils and gums, cough and spitting 

 of blood. For these a piece the size of a bean is 

 swallowed, or if there is discharge from wounds it is 

 appUed locally, as it is to chaps, ulcers of the genitals, 

 excoriations, fresh, spreading and also festering 

 ulcers, excrescences in the nostrils and suppurations. 

 It is also taken in miUi by women for excessive men- 



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