BOOK XXVII. cxiii. 139-CXVI. 142 



stools. The measure of a dose is an aeetabulum. In- 

 jections " are good for sciatica, if continued until they 

 draw blood.* It is also an emmenagogue but kills the 

 foetus. The other thlaspi is called by some Persicon 

 napy ; " it has broad leaves and large roots, while the 

 plant itself is useful to make an injection for sciatica. 

 Both kinds are good for aflPections of the groin. The 

 picker is recommended to say that he is taking it as a 

 remedy for the groin, all kinds of gatherings, and 

 wounds. He should hft it with one hand. 



CXIV. We are not told the nature of the plant Trachinia. 

 trachinia. I think it untrue, and the assurance of 

 Democritus fantastic, that used as an amulet it con- 

 sumes the spleen in three days. 



CXV. Tragonis, or tragion, grows only on the Tragonis. 

 shores of the island of Crete, and resembles juniper in 

 seed, leaf and branches. Its milky juice, hardened 

 into gum, or its seed taken in drink, brings away sharp 

 points embedded in the flesh. For use as Uniment it 

 is beaten up when fresh and apphed ^vith wine, or it is 

 dried, powdered, and applied \vith honey. It also 

 promotes abundance of milk, and is a specific for 

 ailments of the breasts. 



CXVI. There is also another plant, tragos, called Tragos. 

 by some scorpion, half a foot high, bushy, without 

 leaves, and bearing tiny red clusters with wheat-like 

 seeds, and pointed at the extremity. This plant too 

 grows in coastal districts. Ten or twelve extremities 

 of clusters,'^ pounded and taken in wine, are good for 

 coehac affections, dysentery, spitting of blood, and 

 excessive menstruation. 



TrpooKtivTat, olovel pdyes p.iKpai, TTVppai, Kara neyedos ■nvpov, 

 o|€tai €77 aKpov . . . rovTov 6 KapiTos, coj payej heKa, aiiv 

 otvw TToOeiai h-oiAia/cot)? Kal poiKas d)(f>e\ovat,. 



477 



