BOOK XXVII. XXVIII. 49-xxix. 53 



Gallic nard ; for the spleen, -with vinegar, pottage or 

 fig. In vinegar it is an antidote to poisonous iungi, 

 as also to mistletoe ; in wine, to hemlock, the poison 

 of the shrew mouse, sea weever ° and scorpions. It 

 is a great aid to clear vision. With raisin wine it is 

 appHed to eye fluxes, and with honey to bruises. 

 Ear trouble is cured by fumigation A^dth the steam 

 of the decoction, or when bloody pus exudes, by 

 pounded wormwood wdth honey. Three or four 

 twigs, with one root of GalHc nard and six cyathi of 

 water, are diuretic and an emmenagogue ; it is 

 specific for faulty menstruation if taken A\ith honey 

 or* appHed as a pessary in wool. With honey and 

 soda it is helpful for quinsy. In water it cures night 

 rashes. Recent wounds it heals if appHed before 

 they have been touched with water ; it cures, more- 

 over, sores on the head. With Cyprian wax or with 

 fig it makes an exceptionally good appHcation for 

 affections of the flanks.*^ It also cures pruritus, but 

 must not be given to feverish patients. Taken in 

 drink on sea voyages it prevents nausea ; worn 

 under a beUy-band, swelHngs of the groin."^ It 

 induces sleep if inhaled through the nose or placed 

 secretly under the sufferer's head. Put into clothes 

 it keeps away moth. Rubbing the body all over with 

 it in oil drives away gnats, as does the smoke of it 

 when burnt. Writing ink mixed with the infusion 

 protects the writing from mice. Ashes of worm- 

 wood mixed with ointment and rose-oil stain the hair 

 black. 



XXIX. There is also a sea wormwood, called by 

 some seriphum, the most approved growing at 

 Taposiris in Egypt. At the ceremonies of Isis the 

 priests cai-ry a branch of it rituaHy before them. 



421 



