CHAP. 13.—THE ASTAPHISAGRIA, OTHERWISE CALLED STAPHIS OR TAMINIA: TWELVE REMEDIES.
The wild astaphis, otherwise called staphis,[2866] is by some persons erroneously called “uva taminia;”[2867] for it is altogether a distinct plant from the other. It has a black, upright stem, with leaves resembling those of the labrusca,[2868] and bears what we may call a pod,[2869] rather than a grape, green, similar to a chick-pea in appearance, and enclosing a kernel of triangular form. The fruit of it ripens with the vintage and turns black, while the berries of the taminia,[2870] as is well known, are red; this last, too, as we are aware, grows only in shaded spots, while the wild astaphis, on the other hand, loves a site that is exposed to the sun.
I would not recommend any one to use the kernels[2871] of the wild astaphis as a purgative, as it is very doubtful whether they might not choke the patient; nor would I advise them to be employed for the purpose of attenuating the phlegm, as they are extremely irritating to the throat. Beaten up, however, and applied topically, they kill vermin[2872] in the head and other parts of the body, more particularly if they are used with sandarach; they are very useful, too, for itch-scabs and prurigo. A decoction of the kernels is made with vinegar, for the cure of tooth-ache, diseases of the ears, cicatrices[2873] that are slow in healing, and running sores.
The blossoms of the plant are beaten up and taken in wine for stings[2874] inflicted by serpents; but, as to the seed, I would strongly recommend its rejection, on account of its extremely pungent properties. Some persons give to this plant the name of “pituitaria,”[2875] and use it as a common application for stings inflicted by serpents.