Chap. 15.] 
GOTJGH. 
163 
arrests scrofula, they say : the same being the case also with 
vervain, in combination with plantago. For the cure of all 
diseases of the fingers, hangnails in particular, cinquefoil is 
used. 
CHAP. 15. COUGH. 
Of all diseases of the chest, cough is the one that is the 
most oppressive. For the cure of this malady, root of pa- 
naces in sweet wine is used, and in cases where it is attended 
with spitting of blood, juice of henbane. Henbane, too, used as 
a fumigation, is good for cough ; and the same with scordotis,^^ 
mixed with nasturtium and dry resin, beaten up with honey : 
employed by itself also, scordotis facilitates expectoration, a 
property which is equally possessed by the greater centaury, 
even where the patient is troubled with spitting of blood ; for 
which last juice of plantago is very beneficial. Betony, taken 
in doses of three oboli in water, is useful for purulent or 
bloody expectorations: root -also of persolata,^' in doses of 
one drachma, taken with eleven pine-nuts; and juice of peu- 
cedanum.^* 
For pains in the chest, acoron^ is remarkably useful ; hence 
it is that it is so much used an ingredient in antidotes. "For 
cough, daucus and the plant scythice are much employed, 
this last being good, in fact, for all affections of the chest, 
coughs, and purulent expectorations, taken in doses of three 
oboli, with the same proportion of raisin wine. The verbas- 
cum^* too, with a flower like gold, is similarly employed. 
(6.) This last-named plant is so remarkably energetic, that 
an infusion of it, administered in their drink, will relieve 
beasts of burden, not only when troubled with cough, but when 
broken- winded even — a property which I find attributed to 
gentian also. Eoot of cacalia^^ chewed, or steeped in wine, is 
good for cough as well as all affections of the throat. Five 
sprigs of hyssop, with two of rue and three figs, act detergently 
upon the thoracic organs and allay cough, 
«i See B. XXV. c. 11. 62 gee B. xxv. c, 27. 
63 See B. xxv. c. 66. ^ See B. xxv. c. 70. 
65 See B. xxv. c. 100. See B.'xxv. c. 64. 
6"^ See B. xxii. c. 11, and B. xxv. c. 43, Our Liquorice probably, which, 
Fee remarks, as also figs and hyssop, has maintained its ancient reputation 
as a pectoral. 
^ See B. xxv. c. 73. 6^ See B. xxv. c. 85. 
