BOOK XXVII. Lxxxiv. 108-LXXXVI11. III 



grows in meadows. A decoction of its stalks, a hand- 

 ful in a dry wine, is a cure for toothache, but it must 

 be kept in the mouth. 



LXXXV. Othonna grows in Syria. It is like othonna. 

 eruca, has leaves full of holes and a saffron flower. 

 This is why some have called it anemone. Its juice 

 is a suitable ingredient of eye salves, for it is sHghtly 

 biting, warming, and astringent, because of its drying 

 nature ; it clears away scars, films and all obstruc- 

 tions. Some say that it is washed, and then, after 

 drying, worked up into lozenges. 



LXXXVI. Onosma has long leaves up to about onosma. 

 three fingers in length, lying on the ground Hke those 

 of anchusa. It has no stem, no blossom and no seed." 

 If a woman with child should eat it or step over it, she 

 is said to miscarry. 



LXXXVII. Asses are said, if they have eaten Onopradoii 

 onopradon, to break wind. It is diuretic and an 

 emmenagogue, checks looseness of the bowels, and 

 disperses suppurations and gatherings. 



LXXXVllI. Osyris bears dark twigs, slender and Osyris. 

 pliant, on which are dark leaves Uke those of flax. 

 The seed on the twigs is black to begin with, and 

 then the colour changes to red. From them are 

 made cosmetics for women. A decoction of the roots 

 taken by the mouth cures jaundice. These roots 

 also, if cut ofF before the seed ripens and dried in the 

 sun, check looseness of the bowels ; but, if dug up 

 after the ripening and boiled down in gruel, they are 

 good treatment for catarrhs of the belly, and by them- 

 selves they are beaten up and taken in rain water. 



" Dioscorides III 131 : cn-i yrjs KareoTpoiiiiva efi^epecrraTa 

 rrjs ayxovarjs. eari Be aKauXos Kal aKapTTOS Kal dvav9i^s. So 

 there is no need to alter, with Mayhoff, sine to sive. 



457 



