BOOK XXVI. XXXIV. 53-xxxv. 56 



in milk of the roots of cinquefoil, or aristolochia, 

 a victoriatus by weight in three cyathi of wine. 

 When the pi-escriptions mentioned above are to be 

 taken warm, it will be found best to heat them 

 with red-hot iron. On the other hand a drachma 

 of the juice of the lesser centaury taken in a hemina 

 of water with a httle salt and vinegar purges the 

 bowels and carries off bile ; <* the greater centaury 

 dispels griping pains. Betony acts as an aperient, 

 four drachmae being added to nine cyathi of hydromel; 

 so also euphorbeum or agaric, in doses of two 

 drachmae with a Httle salt, taken in water or in three 

 oboH of honey wine. Cyclamen too is an aperient, 

 either taken in water or used as a suppository ; the 

 same in its action is a suppository of chamaecissos. 

 A handful of hyssop, boiled dowTi to one third with 

 salt, or pounded in oxymel and salt, both carries ofF 

 phlegm and expels worms from the intestines. Root 

 of peucedanum carries oif both phlegm and bile. 



XXXV. Both kinds of anagalUs, taken in hydromel, 

 are purgative, as is also epithymum, which is the 

 blossom of the thyme Uke satureia. The only differ- 

 ence is that this has a grass-green flower, the other 

 thyme a white one. Some call it hippopheos. Less 

 beneficial to the stomach, it causes vomitings, but 

 dispels coUc and flatulence. As an electuary it is 

 also taken with honey, and sometimes with iris, for 

 chest troubles. From four to six drachmae with 

 honey and a Uttle salt and vinegar move the bowels. 

 Others give a difFerent account of epithymum : that 

 it grows without a root, has a small head Uke a Uttle 

 hood, is red in colour and is dried in the shade, and a 

 dose of half an acetabulum, taken in water, carries 

 ofF phlegm and bile, acting as a gentle aperient. 



305 



