BOOK XXV. xcii. 144-XC111. 146 



are better if the ointment is made vvith Attic honey. 

 It dilates the pupils, and so these are smeared with 

 it before perforation for cataract. These plants also 

 cure eye diseases in draught animals. The juice also 

 clears the head if poured through the nostrils, but it " 

 must be rinsed out afterwards with wine. A drachma 

 dose of the juice is also taken in wine for snake bites. 

 It is a wonderful thing that cattle avoid the female 

 plant, or if deceived by the resemblance — for the 

 only difterence is in the flower — they have partaken of 

 it , they at once seek as a remedy the plant called asyla. 

 VVe Romans call it " cat's-eye ". Some instruct 

 the diggers to say nothing until they have saluted it 

 before sunrise, and then to gather it and extract the 

 juice, for so they say its efficacy is at its greatest. 

 About the juice of euphorbea * enough has been said. 

 Ophthalmia, if there is swelHng, will be benefited 

 by wormwood beaten up with honey, and also by 

 powdered <^ betony. 



XCIII. Aegilops ^ is cured by the plant of the 

 same name, which grows among barley and has a 

 leaf Hke that of wheat ; either the seed may be 

 reduced to powder, mixed with flour and appHed, or 

 the juice may be used. This is extracted from the 

 stem and juicy leaves after taking away the ears, 

 and then it is worked into lozenges vdth the flour of 

 three-month wheat. 



thing rinsed away (juice) and possibly the subject has been 

 left vague, e.g. nasus implied in nares. But see § 166. 



* See § 78 of this book. 



' The emendation of Mayhoff would mean : " and also 

 powdered betony with wine." 



^ Aegilops the disease is a lacrimal fistula. 



239 



