Chap. 62.] 
THE OECHTS. 
189 
be fasting too, and the 'damsel must say, touching him with 
the back of her hand/* Apollo forbids that a disease shall 
increase which a naked virgin restrains." So saying, she 
must withdraw her hand, and repeat to the above effect three 
times, both of them spitting upon the ground each time. 
Eoot, too, of mandragora^^ is used for this purpose, with 
water ; a decoction of root of scammony with honey ; sideritis^® 
beaten up with stale grease ; horehound with stale axle- 
grease ; or chrysippios,^"^ a plant which owes its name to its 
discoverer — with pulpy figs. 
CHAP. 61. (10.) APHRODISIACS AISTD ANTAPHRODISIACS. 
IS'ymphsea heraclia, used as already stated,®^ acts most 
powerfully as an antaphrodisiac ; the same too if taken once 
every forty days in drink. Taken in drink fasting, or eaten 
with the food, it effectually prevents the recurrence of libidi- 
nous dreams. The root too, used in the form of a liniment and 
applied to the generative organs, not only represses all prurient 
desires, but arrests the seminal secretions as well ; for which 
reason, it is said to have a tendency to make flesh and to 
improve the voice. 
The upper part of the root of xiphion,^ taken in wine, acts 
as an aphrodisiac. The same is the case too with the wild 
crethmos,^ or agrios as it is called, and with horminum,^ beaten 
up with polenta.* 
CHAP. 62. THE OECHIS OE SEEAPIAS ! FIVE MEDICINAL 
PEOPERTIES. SATTEIOK. 
But there are few plants of so marvellous a nature as the 
orchis^ or serapias, a vegetable production with leaves like 
The following is the formula of this monstrous piece of absurdity : 
" Negat Apollo pestem posse crescere cui nuda virgo restinguat.'' 
S5 See B. XXV. c. 94. 96 ggg B. xxv. c. 19. 
An unknown plant. 
'8 In B. xxv. c. 37. This alleged property of the Nymphaea is entirely 
fabulous. 99 See B. xx. c. 13. 
1 See B. xxv. cc. 88 and 89. 2 See B. xxv. c. 96. 
3 See B. xviii. cc. 10 and 22. * See B. xviii. c. 14. 
5 Identified by Littre with the Orchis undulatifolia, and by Fee with 
the Orchis morio of Linnaeus, the Female orchis, or Female fool-stones. 
Its aphrodisiac properties seem not to have been proved by modern ex- 
perience, but it is nourishing in the highest degree. Linnaeus, however, 
seems to be of opinion that it may have the effect of an aphrodisiac upon 
