BOOK XXVI. xc. 153-157 



dose being one denarius by weight. Very many 

 however are the ways in which aristolochia does 

 good, for it is an emmenagogue, hastens the after- 

 birth, and brings away a dead foetus ; myrrh and 

 pepper being added it is taken in drink or used as 

 a pessary. It also checks prolapsus of the uterus, 

 whether used as fomentation, fumigation or pessary, 

 especially the slender aristolochia. Hysterical sufFo- 

 cations and delayed menstruation are reheved by 

 agaric taken in doses of three oboU to a cyathus of 

 old wine, by a pessary of peristereos in fresh lard, and 

 by antirrhinon wdth rose oil and honey. The root also 

 of Thessalian nymphaea cures uterine pain when used 

 as a pessary ; taken in dark-red wine it checks ex- 

 cessive menstruation ; on the contrary, root of cycla- 

 men is an emmenagogue if taken in drink or " used 

 as a pessary ; a sitz bath in the decoction is a remedy 

 for troubles of the bladder. Cissanthemos taken in 

 drink forces out the after-birth and heals the uterus. 

 The upper part of the root of xiphium is an emmena- 

 gogue, the dose being a drachma taken in vinegar. 

 Peucedanum calms hysteincal sufFocations by its 

 smell when burnt ; leucon-hoea is purged especially 

 by psylHon in doses of one drachma to three cyathi of 

 water. Seed of mandrake taken in drink purges the 

 uterus ; a pessary of its juice is an emmenagogue and 

 brings away a dead foetus. Excessive menstruation 

 again is checked by mandrake seed with live sulphur ; 

 on the contrary, menstruation is promoted by batra- 

 chium, taken in drink or food, a plant which, though 

 when raw it has, as I have said,'' a burning taste, is 

 made agreeable, when cooked, by salt, oil and cummin. 

 Daucum in drink readily acts as an emmenagogue, 

 and readily brings away the after-birth ; fumigation 



379 



