174 
PLINY' S NATURAL HISTOBT. 
[Book XXVL 
for desperate cases of dysentery, a decoction of roots of cinque - 
foil in milk, or else aristolochia,^^ in the proportion of one 
victoriatus^^ to three cyathi of wine. In the case of the pre- 
parations above-mentioned, which are recommended to be taken 
warm, it will be the best plan to heat them with a red-hot 
iron. 
On the other hand, again, the juice of the smaller centaury 
acts as a purgative upon the bowels, and carries off bile, taken, 
in doses of one drachma, in one hemina of water with a little 
salt and vinegar. The greater centaury is curative of griping 
pains in the bowels. Betony, also, has a laxative effect, taken 
in the proportion of four drachmae to nine cyathi of hydromel : 
the same, too, with euphorbia®^ or agaric, taken, in doses of two 
drachmae, with a little salt, in water, or else in three oboli of 
honied wine. Cyclaminos/^ also, is a purgative, either taken 
in water or used as a suppository ; the same, too, with chamse- 
cissos,^^ employed as a suppository. A handful of hyssop, 
boiled down to one third with salt, or beaten up with oxymel 
and salt, and applied to the abdomen, promotes pituitous 
evacuations, and expels intestinal worms. Eoot also of peu- 
cedanum^* carries off pituitous humours and bile. 
CHAP. 35. EPITHTMON OK HIPPOPHEOS : EIGHT REMEDIES. 
The two kinds of anagallis, taken in hydromel, are purgative ; 
the same, too, with epithymon,^* which is the blossom of a 
sort^ of thyme similar to savory ; the only difference being that 
the flower of this plant is nearer grass green, while that of the 
other thyme is white. Some persons call it hippopheos.'*^^ 
This plant is by no means wholesome to the stomach, as 
it is apt to cause vomiting, but at the same time it disperses 
59 See B. XXV. c. 54. 
^ See Introduction to Vol. III. Fee remarks that none of the assertions 
in the present Chapter are confirmed by modern experience. 
61 See B. XXV. c. 38. 62 gee B. xxv. c. 67. 
63 See B. xxiv. cc. 49, 84, and B. xxv. c. 69. 
64 See B. xxv. c. 70. 
65 Identical with the Orohanche of B. xviii. c. 44, the Cuscnta Europsea 
of Linnaeus, Dodder, Hell-weed, or Devil's guts ; or else the Cuscuta 
minor, or epithymum of linnagus. See also B. xxii. cc. 78, 80. 
66 He is in error here. 
67 Hardouin suggests hypopheos," as springing up under the Pheos" 
or Stoebe, mentioned in B. xxii. c. 13. 
