Chap. 90.] REMEDIES FOB FEMALE DISEASES. 
211 
drink. But it is dittany that is of the greatest efficacy in cases 
of this description ; it acts as an emmenagogue, and is an ex- 
pellent of the foetus when dead or lying transversely in tlje 
uterus. In these cases the leaves of it are taken, in doses of 
one obolus, in water : indeed so active is it in its effects that 
ordinarily it is forbidden to be introduced into the chamber of 
a woman lying-in. l^ot only is it thus efficacious when taken 
in drink, but even when applied topically or used as a fumiga- 
tion. Pseudodictamnum"^^ possesses pretty nearly the same vir- 
tues, but it acts as an emmenagogue also, boiled in doses of one 
denarius in unmixed wine. Aristolochia,'''^ however, is employed 
for a greater number of purposes : in combination with myrrh 
and pepper, either taken in drink or used as a pessary, it acts 
as a powerful emmenagogue, and brings away the dead foetus 
and the after-birth. This plant, the smaller kind in particular, 
used either as a fomentation, fumigatioUj or pessary, acts as a 
preventive of procidence of the uterus. 
Hysterical suffocations and irregularities of the catamenia 
are treated with agaric, taken in doses of three oboli, in one 
cyathus of old wine : vervain is used also in similar cases, as a 
pessary, with fresh hog's lard ; or else antirrhinum,'^^ witli rose 
oil and honey. Eoot of Thessalian nymphaea,^^ used as a 
pessary, is curative of pains in the uterus ; taken in red wine, 
it arrests uterine discharges. Eoot of cyclaminos,^^ on the 
other hand, taken in drink and employed as a pessary, acts as 
an emmenagogue : a decoction of it, used as a sitting-bath, 
cures affections of the bladder. Cissanthemos,^^ taken in drink, 
brings away the after-birth, and is curative of diseases of the 
uterus. The upper part of the root of xiphion,^^ taken in 
doses of one drachma, in vinegar, promotes menstruation. A 
fumigation of burnt peucedanum^^ has a soothing efiect in 
cases of hysterical suffocation. Psyllion,^^ taken in the pro- 
portion of one drachma to three cyathi of hydromel, is par- 
ticularly good for promoting the lochial discharge. Seed of 
mandragora,^^ taken in drink, acts as a detergent upon the 
See B. XXV. c. 53. See B. xxv. c. 54. 
See B. xxv. c. 37. 
81 See B. xxv. c. 68. 
^3 See B. xxv. c 70. 
85 See B. xxv. c 94. 
'6 Bastard dittany." 
See B. xxv. c. 80. 
so See B. xxv. c. 67. 
8"- See B. xxv. c. 88. 
^ See B. xxv. c. 90, 
