BOOK XXVII. cix. 133-136 



of the stems are umbellate, as ave those of celery; 

 the seed is round and black. It withers at the begin- 

 ning of summer. The root too has a smell, and a 

 sharp, biting taste, being soft and full of juice. Its skin 

 is dark on the outside, but the inside is pale. The 

 smell has the character of myrrh, whence too the 

 plant gets its name. It grows on rocky hills, and 

 also on those with plenty of earth. It is used for 

 warming and for reducing." Leaves, root, and seed 

 are diuretic and emmenagogues. The root binds the 

 bowels, and an apphcation of it disperses gatherings 

 and suppurations, if not chronic, as well as indura- 

 tions ; mixed with cachry, poHum, or meHssophyllum, 

 it is also taken in wine to counteract the poison of 

 spiders and serpents, but only a Httle at a time, for if 

 taken all at once it acts as an emetic, and so is some- 

 times given with rue. Seed or root is a remedy for 

 cough and orthopnoea, also for affections of thorax, 

 spleen, kidneys or bladder, and the root is for rup- 

 tures and sprains ; it also faciHtates deHvery and 

 brings away the after-birth. In wine with crethmos 

 it is also given for sciatica. It promotes sweating 

 and belching, and therefore dispels flatulence of the 

 stomach. It causes wounds to cicatrize. There is 

 also extracted fi'om the root a juice useful for female 

 ailments, and for affections of the thorax and of the 

 hypochondi-ia, for it is waiTning, digestive and 

 cleansing. The seed is given in drink, especially for 

 dropsy, for which the juice also is used as Hniment. 

 The dried skin is used in plasters, and also as a side- 

 dish ^ with honey wine, oil and garum, especiaUy 

 when the meat is boiled. 



Sinon tastes veiy Hke pepper and aids digestion. sino7i. 

 It also is very good for pain in the stomach. 



473 



