BOOK XXVI. Lx. 92-Lxi. 94 



LX. Superficial abscess is cured by panaces in Curesfor 

 honey, plantain with salt, cinquefoil, root of persol- ''^absefsses 

 lata administered as for scrofula ; also by dama- 

 sonium and by verbascum, pounded with its root, 

 sprinkled with wine, wi-apped i'ound with its leaves, 

 and heated, thus prepared, on embers, so that it 

 may be apphed hot. Those with experience have 

 assured us that it makes all the difference if, while 

 the patient is fasting, the poultice is laid upon him 

 by a maiden, herself fasting and naked, who must 

 touch him with the back of her hand and say : 

 " Apollo tells us that a plague cannot grow more 

 fiery in a patient if a naked maiden quench the 

 fire ; " and with her hand so reversed she must 

 repeat the formula three times, and both must spit 

 on the ground three times. Other cures are man- 

 drake root in water, a decoction of scammony root 

 with honey, sideritis crushed with stale grease, 

 marruvium with stale axle-grease, or chrysippios — 

 another plant named after its discoverer — with 

 plump figs. 



LXI. Nymphaea heracUa, as I have said,** takes A"ymphaei 

 away altogether sexual desire ; a single draught of 

 it does so for forty days ; sexual dreams too are 

 prevented if it is taken in drink on an empty 

 stomach and * eaten with food. AppHed to the 

 genitals the root also checks not only desire but 

 also excessive accumulation of semen. For this 

 reason it is said to make flesh and to improve 

 the voice. Sexual desire is excited by the 

 upper part of xiphium root given in wine as 

 a draught ; also by the plant called cremnos 

 agrios and by ormenos agrios crushed with pearl 

 barley. 



335 



