206 
PLINY' S NATURAL HTSTORT. 
[Book XXVI. 
CHAP. 86. — KEMEDIES POR PHTHIEIASIS. 
Phthiriasis is a disease which proved fatal to the Dictator 
Sylla,^^ and which developes itself by the production of insects 
in the blood, which ultimately consume the body. It is combated 
by using the juice of Taminian grapes^^ or of hellebore, the 
body being rubbed all over with it, in combination with oil. 
A decoction of Taminian grapes in vinegar, has the effect, also, 
of ridding the clothes of these vermin. 
CHAP. 87. (14.) EEMEDIES EOR ULCEES AND WOUNDS. 
Of ulcers there are numerous kinds, which are treated in 
various ways. The root of all the varieties of panaces^^ is 
used as an application for running ulcers, in warm wine. 
That which we have spoken of as the " chironion"^^ is par- 
ticularly good as a desiccative : bruised with honey, it opens 
tumours, and is useful for serpiginous ulcers, the cure of which 
appears more than doubtful ; in which case it is amalgamated 
with flower®^ of copper tempered with wine, either the seed, 
flower, or root, being employed for the purpose. Mixed with 
polenta^ it is good for old wounds. The following are also 
good detergents for wounds : heraclion siderion,^ apoUinaris,^ 
psyllion,^ tragacantha,^ and scordotis^ mixed with honey. 
Powdered scordotis, applied by itself, consumes fleshy excres- 
cences on the body. Polemonia"^ is curative of the malignant 
ulcer known as cacoethes.'^ The greater centaury,^ sprinkled 
in powder, or applied in the form of a liniment, or the leaves of 
the smaller^ centaury, boiled or pounded, act as a detergent 
upon inveterate ulcers, and effect a cure. To recent wounds, 
the foUicules of the clymenus^^ are applied. Gentian is applied 
to serpiginous ulcers, the root being bruised or else boiled down 
in water to the consistency of honey ; the juice also of the 
plant is employed. Fox wounds, a kind of lycium^^ is prepared 
from gentian. 
95 See B. xi. c. 39, and B. xx. c. 32. 96 gge B. xxiii. c. 13. 
97 See B. XXV. c. 11, et seq. 98 gee B. xxv. c 15. 
99 For a description of this substance, see B. Xxxiv. c. 24. 
I See B. xviii. c. 14. 
3 See B. xxv. c. 17. 
5 See B. xiii. c. 36. 
7 See B. xxv. c. 28, 
9 See B. XXV. c. 31. 
II See B. xxiv. c. 77. 
2 See B. xxv. c. 15. 
^ See B. xxv. c. 90. 
6 See B. xxv. c. 27. 
8 See B. xxv. c. 30. 
10 See xxv. c. 33. 
