BOOK XXVI. Lxviii. 108-LXIX. III 



it is described by our Roman authorities ; but 

 Greeks " say that it has leaves a little Hghter in 

 colour than those of the mallow, thin stems, and 

 downy, with branches at intervals and two spans 

 long ; on them are the leaves, among which on the 

 tips of the stems are miniature heads of cranes. A 

 second kind has leaves like those of anemone, which 

 are marked with rather long incisions, and a round 

 root Hke an apple, sweet, and very beneficial to 

 convalescents. The last seems to be the true 

 geranion. It is taken in drink for consumption 

 twice a day in doses of one drachma in three cyathi of 

 wine ; the same prescription is good for flatulence, 

 and eaten raw tlie plant has the same effect. The 

 juice of the root is good for ear trouble ; for opistho- 

 tonic tetanus four-drachmae doses of seed are taken 

 in drink with pepper and myrrh. Consumption is 

 cured too by drinking plantain juice, and by plantain 

 itself boiled and taken as food. Eaten with salt and 

 oil on waking from sleep in the morning it is very 

 refreshing. It is also given every other day to those 

 who we say are " wasting away," but to consump- 

 tives we give betony made up with honey into an 

 electuary of the size of a bean, or agaric in raisin 

 wine in two-oboli doses, or daucum with the greater 

 centaury in wine. Cases of phagedaena, a word 

 meaning bulimia as well as rodent ulcer, are treated 

 by tithymalkis with sesame. 



LXIX. Of the maladies that affect the whole body 

 sleeplessness is the most common. As remedies for it 

 are recommended panaces, clymenos, aristolochia — 

 by the smell or by bathing the head — aizoiim, that is 



dKpmv Toiv fiaa;^aAaJv i^oxds rivas dvavevevKvias, ois yepdvojv 

 K€<f>aAds. 



347 



