BOOK XXIV. xcii, 145-148 



pneumonia. The seed pounded up with olive oil or 

 rose oil is injected for ear-ache. Dieuches " adminis- 

 tered it, thoroughly mixed with the powder from a 

 loaf,'' for coughs, asthma, ortliopnoea, and the spitting 

 of pus. Diodotus " gave it in the form of an honey 

 electuary for consumption and complaints of the 

 lungs, and even used it as an appHcation for broken 

 bones. Apphed round the sexual parts it helps 

 dehvery of all animals. Dimness of vision and dis- 

 orders of the stomach are removed by the juice of 

 the root with Attic honey, and cough by the broth <* 

 of a decoction with the addition of honey. The 

 juice is a wonderful remedy for ulcers of all kinds, 

 whether corroding, cancerous, spreading, or poly- 

 pus in the nostrils. The leaves, boiled in wine and 

 oil, are good for burns. Taken in salt and vinegar 

 they are a strong purge, boiled with honey they are 

 good for dislocations, and also fresh or dried, with 

 salt added, for gouty joints. Hippocrates * apphed 

 them, fresh or dried, with honey locally to boils. As an 

 emmenagogue two drachmae of the seed or root in 

 two cyathi of wine are sufficient, and the same 

 draught, if cleansing after dehvery is not effected, also 

 brings away the after-birth. Hippocrates also used 

 the i'oot by itself as a pessary. It is said too that 

 in times of plague it is healthful to take it in one's 

 food. It dissipates the effects of drunkenness. The 

 fumes arising from it when it burns keep away ser- 

 pents, especially asps, or make them so tipsy that 

 they are found in a state of torpor. Serpents are also 

 kept ofF if the body is thoroughly rubbed with aron 

 in oil of bay. For this reason it is also considered 



'■ k% I can find no reference to aron in the Hippocratic Cor- 

 yus, Pliny is alluding to some work now lost. 



