BOOK XXVI. XXIV. 40-xxvii. 42 



it grows among the corn and in meadows, with a 

 strong scent and a white flower. Its young shoof* 

 is beaten up in old wine. 



XXV. The plant calcetum Hkewise is crushed with 

 grape-skins and applied locally. Betony root acts 

 as a gentle emetic, administered as is hellebore, the 

 dose being four drachmae taken in raisin wine or in 

 honey ^vine. The same is true of hyssop beaten up 

 with honey, the result being better if cress or irio is 

 taken first. Another cure is molemonium in doses 

 of one denarius by weight. The milky juice of 

 sillybum also, which thickens into a gum, is taken 

 with honey, the dose being as above, and is excellent 

 for cariying ofF bile. On the other hand, vomiting 

 is arrested by wild cummin, or by powdered betony, 

 both taken in water. Distaste for food is banished 

 and indigestion dispelled by daucum, by powdered 

 betony in hydi'omel, and by plantain boiled down 

 as are greens. Hemionion relieves hiccoughs, as 

 also does aristolochia, and clymenus reheves asthma. 

 For pleurisy and pneumonia the greater centaury, 

 and Hkewse hyssop, are taken in drink, and for 

 pleurisy is taken juice of peucedanum. 



XXVI. Halus also, which the Gauls call sil and the 

 Veneti cotonea, cures pain in the side, as well as 

 kidney troubles, sprains and ruptures. It is like 

 ox-cunila, and the tops are like those of thyme. It 

 is sweet and allays thirst. Its roots are in some 

 districts light, in others dark. 



XXVII. The same good effect on pain in the sides 

 is given by chamaerops, taken in wine, a plant with 

 myrtle-like leaves around its twin stems, and with 

 heads hke those of a Greek rose. Agaric, taken in 

 drink as for cough, reUeves sciatica and pains in the 



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