BOOK XXVI. X. 22-xii. 25 



tion. It also stops bleeding if the juice is dropped 

 into wounds, and applied locally it is good for gather- 

 ings. With honey also it cures jaundice, if the 

 mouth and tongue are smeared with it. Patients 

 undergoing this treatment are ordered to bathe in 

 salt water, to be rubbed with almond oil, and to 

 abstain from gai-den vegetables. To treat hchen is 

 also used the root of thapsia pounded with honey. 



XI. For the treatment of quinsy argemonia is Qninsy. 

 taken in wine, hyssop is boiled down with figs and 

 used as a gargle, peucedanum is used with rennet 



of the seal in equal parts, and proserpinaca pounded 

 with sprats-brine and oil, or else held beneath 

 the tongue. Cinquefoil juice also, in doses of three 

 cyathi. This also used as gargle is good for all 

 aifections of the throat ; verbascum taken in water 

 is specific for the tonsils. 



XII. For scrofulous sores are prescribed plantain, scro/uia. 

 the great celandine with honey and axle-grease, 

 cinquefoil, root of persollata also with axle-grease — 



the apphcation is covered with the plant's leaves — 

 artemisia also and the root of mandrake in water. 

 Broad-leaved sideritis dug up with a nail in the left 

 hand is attached as an amulet, but the healed 

 patients must guard it, lest herbahsts wickedly 

 plant it again, as I have said in certain places," and 

 bring about a relapse,'' a danger against which I find 

 those also are warned who have been cured by arte- 

 misia, and those too cured by plantain. Damasonium, 



" See XXI, § 144, and XXV, § 174. 



' Elsewhere rebellare is used of the disease, so that Pliny 

 has probably written carelessly. Maj^hoif thinks that 

 taedium (cf. XXVI, § 3, rebellante taedio) has fallen out after 

 sata, where two MSS. have die. This may be right. 



283 



