BOOK XXVII. xciv. I20-XCVII. 123 



into lozenges. These, dissolved in three cyathi of 

 white wine, are given for thirty days to cure splenic 

 alFections, the spleen being reduced either by blood in 

 the urine or thi-ough the bowels, as is plain immedi- 

 ately from the tenth day. The boiled leaves too are 

 diuretic, and also beneficial to asthmatics ; they aid 

 delivery and bring away the after-birth if taken in 

 drink in a similar way. 



XCV. Pelecinos I have said " grows in comfields. Pelednos. 

 It makes a bushy plant with its stalks, and has leaves 

 Hke those of the chick-pea. It bears seed, Hke git 

 seed as we know it,** in three or four pods curved Hke 

 little horns. This seed is bitter, a good stomachic, 

 and an ingredient of antidotes. 



XCVI. Polygala is a full span in height, with Poiygaia. 

 leaves, like those of lentil, on the top of the stem, 

 and with an astringent taste. Taken in drink it 

 promotes an abundant supply of milk." 



XCVII. Poterion, or as some call it, phrynion PoteHon. 

 or neuras, is a spreading shrub, shrivelled and prickly, 

 with thick down, small round leaves, long branches 

 that are soft, flexible and slender, and a long flower 

 of a grass-green colour. The seed is not used in 

 medicine, but has a shai-p, aromatic taste. The plant 

 is found on moist hills. It has two or three roots, 

 two cubits in depth, sinewy, white and firm. It is 

 dug up in autumn, and when the shrub has been cut 

 away,<^ the root yields a juice Hke gum. An appHca- 

 tion of the root is said to be a wonderful healer of 

 wounds, especially of sinews even when they have 

 been severed. A decoction of the root also, taken 

 with honey, is good for relaxed, weak, or cut sinews. 



■* There seems no need for Mayhoff's correction. When the 

 top was cut off the root would " bleed." 



465 



